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 The
Women in
Technology Project mission is to build and strengthen the
education to workforce pipeline by encouraging girls, women
and other underrepresented groups into science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) careers.
It is funded in part through grants from the U.S. Department's
of Labor, Agriculture and Education. It is the first workforce
development project of its kind to encourage girls, women and
underrepresented groups into science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM) education and careers.
The Project is administered by the Maui Economic Development
Board, Inc., with offices at the Maui Research and Technology
Center in Kihei, Maui, Hawaii. According to the latest
national studies, women represent the largest under-utilized
national resource of great potential in science and
technology. Data suggests that in order to maintain the
present number of scientists and engineers in the U.S.,
however, enrollment and retention of women and ethnic
minorities in these fields must rise from a total of less than
25% to 75% in the next 40 years
The Women in Technology Project was developed to address this
workforce development need. United States Senator Daniel K.
Inouye has been instrumental in supporting the Project,
stressing that every member of our workforce, especially
women, should be encouraged to reach their full potential, so
Hawaii can keep pace with the changing technological
landscape.
The goal of the WIT Project is to work in partnership with
educators and businesses to establish a pipeline from
education to employment in math, science, engineering and
technology for Hawaii's women and girls. The Project began in
Maui County in 1999, but is now a statewide project with its
main office on Maui, and a Project Manager on Oahu.
The goal of the Project is an improved economic quality of
life for women by encouraging them into higher-paying
technology occupations. The goal is also to promote the
economic development of our technology industry by developing
a skilled technology workforce. Successful pilot outcomes are
gaining national recognition, with communities adopting WIT
best practices.
It has partnerships with Hawaii Island Economic Development
Board and Kauai Economic Development Board that strengthen the
Projects presence on those islands.
The Women In Tech project continues to build upon existing
research and current innovations, and has published/presented
numerous papers both nationally and internationally.
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WIT provides
mentoring and internship
programs for women in higher education. WIT
also helps meet the needs of women entering or
currently seeking other positions in the
workplace by facilitating job placement, as well
as training employers and labor unions on
strategies to recruit and retain women into
apprenticeships and non-traditional employment.
These programs include:
Agriculture Education,
Excite Camp,
Geotech,
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day,
Kama’aina Come Home,
Ke Alahele,
Mentornet,
Robotics Hawaii,
Tech Careers Day, and
Tech Job Fair. |
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Find
out more about upcoming
workshops or read about current events on
their
blog! |
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WIT
recognizes the diversity of STEM education to
workforce initiatives and the need for multiple
perspectives. The following
resource list offers a cross section of
links to universities, industry, community
groups, research and development organizations
that are currently involved in STEM efforts. |
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