UOW Unveils Initiatives to Boost Female Participation in AI, Blockchain, and More

Strategic Partnership with Odoo to Enhance Financial Technology Education at UOW India

Women’s participation in the technology sector clearly remains underrepresented. Despite being 2024 women still constitute only around 28% of the global tech workforce. In India, the IT sector leads with the highest female participation rate at 30%, followed by 22.4% in financial services. However, the representation of women in technical roles remains limited. This underlines the urgent need for targeted initiatives to enhance female participation in these vital fields.

To address this gap, the University of Wollongong (UOW) India campus, at its inaugural event, launched a FinTech Scholarship aimed at empowering women in the financial technology sector. The event was attended by distinguished figures from industry, academia, and government, including key representatives from both Australia and India.
The scholarship is part of UOW’s broader effort to support and empower women in financial technology.

Additionally, the university has introduced several new academic programs, including a Master of Financial Technology, a Master of Financial Technology (Extension), and a Graduate Certificate in Financial Technology, all designed specifically for Indian students. UOW also announced a strategic partnership with Odoo, a renowned open-source business software suite. This collaboration, which offers tools for customer relationship management (CRM), eCommerce, accounting, and other functions, aims to provide students with hands-on, industry-relevant skills that are aligned with the latest technological trends in business and finance.

Michael Still, Chancellor of the University of Wollongong, stated that the establishment of the campus in India is particularly inspiring, as the country is a hub of knowledge and innovation. He emphasized that this initiative is not merely an expansion of UOW’s global footprint but also a commitment to building lasting connections and creating meaningful opportunities for both students and local communities. Global industry partners are playing a key role in shaping a cutting-edge curriculum, with a focus on emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, big data and analytics, cybersecurity, gaming, contextual mobility, and blockchain technology. This collaboration ensures high-quality industry engagement and prepares students for future challenges in these dynamic sectors.

Marisa Mastroianni, Managing Director and Group CEO of UOW Global Enterprises, noted that Indian students should experience the same high academic standards as those at the university's campuses in Australia, Dubai, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. The first cohort of students will have the exceptional opportunity to embark on a fully funded trip to the Dubai campus, enabling them to engage with a global network and benefit from international collaborations. Upon graduation, these students will join a diverse alumni community spanning 199 countries, alongside more than 7,000 offshore students.

The University of Wollongong's initiatives in India, including the launch of the FinTech Scholarship and strategic partnerships with industry leaders, represent a much-needed effort to boost female participation in the technology sector. These initiatives reflect the university’s broader commitment to addressing gender disparities in these critical fields.

Editor's Note:

The underrepresentation of females in technological fields challenges us all to reconsider the true meaning of gender equality. Living in the AI era, women are still underrepresented in technical roles, holding only 26% of AI jobs and 15% of cloud and data jobs globally. The University of Wollongong's initiatives in India, including the launch of the FinTech Scholarship and strategic industry collaborations, are significant steps toward empowering women in financial technology. Additionally, the university is equipping students with essential technical and industry-relevant skills, coupled with global exposure, to help them thrive in this dynamic field.

Skoobuzz applauds the forward-thinking approach of the University of Wollongong and encourages other universities to take small yet crucial steps toward reducing gender discrimination, ensuring that education becomes truly meaningful and inclusive for all.