Thinking ahead: A career in STEM
Making the choice should start early
Selecting a career path for young children should be acted on before they get to a point where they need to immediately decide on what to apply for at university.
Children have different interests and need their parents' guidance to help them decide on what they will excel in. As they get older, they are exposed to the different fields of study and see how professionals in these fields operate.
High school learners and university students can attend career fairs that are often hosted at universities around the country. Here they can engage with professionals in fields they are interested in and be educated on various careers and different organisations and the programmes they offer.
Anna Shikuli is a mother of two teenage daughters. She believes that there are many ways children can be educated on career fields.
“When children have an idea of what they would like to become, help them to make the right choice,” she said.
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is one of the most emerging careers, and children need to be better informed about it. She said if a child seems interested at a young age, this interest might develop in future.
Education on STEM
In April, lead of iOS development for augmented reality (AR) vs virtual reality (VR) mobile apps at Green Enterprise, Audrey Chanakira, spent the day educating young girls to take up careers in STEM at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
The event focused on 'women's role in Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)'.
The event took place at NUST's Inceit-Informatics Labs to inform learners on opportunities and future career potential in STEM-related fields. At the event, Chanakira said young girls and women can help increase diversity in the tech industry by bringing a different perspective and skillset to the table.
Young girls can help promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the tech industry, and they can also help to ensure that the benefits of the 4IR are shared by all.
She shared her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated tech industry and how she has overcome challenges to succeed and to choose a career in STEM.
Chanakira encouraged high school learners to take on STEM careers to be innovative and solve problems within their communities, which is very important. “If you take up careers in STEM fields, you are better able to think critically and solve real-life problems faced out there. You can use STEM to improve whatever sector you are interested in,” she said.
She also said there are many resources learners can use to learn about coding, robotics or artificial intelligence.
The iOS developer gave some insightful tips to the young girls on how to create a plan to advance their careers in the tech industry:
• Identify your career goals
• Assess your current skills and experience
• Develop a professional network
• Seek out new opportunities
• Create a professional development plan.
High school learners and university students can attend career fairs that are often hosted at universities around the country. Here they can engage with professionals in fields they are interested in and be educated on various careers and different organisations and the programmes they offer.
Anna Shikuli is a mother of two teenage daughters. She believes that there are many ways children can be educated on career fields.
“When children have an idea of what they would like to become, help them to make the right choice,” she said.
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is one of the most emerging careers, and children need to be better informed about it. She said if a child seems interested at a young age, this interest might develop in future.
Education on STEM
In April, lead of iOS development for augmented reality (AR) vs virtual reality (VR) mobile apps at Green Enterprise, Audrey Chanakira, spent the day educating young girls to take up careers in STEM at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).
The event focused on 'women's role in Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)'.
The event took place at NUST's Inceit-Informatics Labs to inform learners on opportunities and future career potential in STEM-related fields. At the event, Chanakira said young girls and women can help increase diversity in the tech industry by bringing a different perspective and skillset to the table.
Young girls can help promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the tech industry, and they can also help to ensure that the benefits of the 4IR are shared by all.
She shared her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated tech industry and how she has overcome challenges to succeed and to choose a career in STEM.
Chanakira encouraged high school learners to take on STEM careers to be innovative and solve problems within their communities, which is very important. “If you take up careers in STEM fields, you are better able to think critically and solve real-life problems faced out there. You can use STEM to improve whatever sector you are interested in,” she said.
She also said there are many resources learners can use to learn about coding, robotics or artificial intelligence.
The iOS developer gave some insightful tips to the young girls on how to create a plan to advance their careers in the tech industry:
• Identify your career goals
• Assess your current skills and experience
• Develop a professional network
• Seek out new opportunities
• Create a professional development plan.
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