In the latter half of 2023, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and TalTech School of IT launched an 8-week digital governance program to provide fundamental knowledge on managing digital transformations and understanding new technologies. This program marks a significant milestone in IT education by creating a global platform to engage women in the sector.
Women in GovTech - The First Graduates
The Women in GovTech Challenge, developed in collaboration with GovStack and TalTech, celebrated the graduation of its first group—over 100 successful women from 59 countries. These graduates acquired skills to lead digital changes in their communities and globally. TalTech, as an academic partner of ITU, played a central role in the development and support of the Women in GovTech Challenge program.
Bridging the Gender Gap
Ingrid Pappel, Vice Dean for Master’s Studies at TalTech School of IT and Program Director for E-Governance Technologies and Services, underscores the importance of such initiatives in bridging the gender gap in the IT sector. “Since only 19 percent of ICT specialists and about a third of graduates in STEM fields are women, these programs are essential for creating a more inclusive digital ecosystem,” explains Pappel. She adds that top experts from various countries participated in the program's development to ensure its quality and relevance.
Program Content and Goals
The Women in GovTech Challenge training program is based on the E-Governance Technologies and Services master's program. It offers an introduction to the foundational components of digital governance, including the legal framework, service design, and the digitalization of government decision-making processes. Pappel emphasizes the program's importance: “Over a hundred women from 59 different countries participated, providing a valuable opportunity to share experiences across different practices. Participants ranged from department heads to ministers.”
Practical Work and Team Collaboration
During the program, teams were formed to tackle various digital governance challenges. The best projects were selected and recognized. “For example, solutions like the Universal Permanent Student (UPS) ID with an academic credit registry, a migration services module, and a solution for accessing healthcare services were developed,” describes Pappel. These practical tasks helped participants delve into different layers of government digitalization and apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios.
Conclusion
The training program is part of the GovStack ecosystem, aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of government services. In addition to ITU, one of its founding members and spokespersons is Estonia's Digital Ambassador, Nele Leosk, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The academic aspect of the program has been led by researchers from the TalTech School of IT, under the leadership of Ingrid Pappel and the Next Gen Digital State research group.