Miami, March 1, 2017- Girls from local middle and high schools will be introduced to the world of programming at 8:30 a.m., March 7, during Let Girls Code, a partnership between Miami Dade College and Oracle Academy, to reduce the severe shortage of women in computer science and other technology-related fields.
Faculty and student volunteers from MDC’s renowned School of Engineering and Technology will guide the students through a programming workshop and serve as judges during the event, which will include training and project pitches from the participants.
By 2020, there will be 1.4 million jobs available in computing relate fields. U.S. graduates are on track to fill 29 percent of those. Women are on track to fill just 3 percent. Tech jobs are among the fastest growing in the country, yet girls are being left behind. While interest in computer science ebbs over time, the biggest drop off happens for girls between the ages of 13-17.
About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College (MDC) is the higher education institution with the largest undergraduate enrollment in the America, with more than 165,000 students. It is also the nation’s top producer of Associate in Arts and Science degrees and awards more degrees to minorities than any other college or university in the country. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 300 distinct degree pathways including several baccalaureate degrees in education, public safety, supervision and management, nursing, physician assistant studies, film, engineering, biological sciences, and others. In fact, its academic and workforce training programs are national models of excellence. MDC is also renowned for its rich cultural programming. It is home of the Miami Book Fair, Miami International Film Festival, the MDC Live Arts Performing Arts Series, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, a major sculpture park and large art gallery and theater systems. MDC has admitted more than 2,000,000 students and counting, since it opened its doors in 1960. For more information please visit www.mdc.edu.