The Influence of the Meninas Digitais UFSC Project on the Professional Life of Graduated Girls in Technology Undergraduate Courses

Abstract

The lack of women’s representation in IT has been discussed for decades in different regions worldwide. The participation of women in this area is fundamental for socioeconomic development. In Brazil, girls have a low interest in graduation courses in STEM areas. This article presents the influence of the project “ Meninas Digitais UFSC” on graduated girls’ career development. Two surveys were applied, the first before the pandemic period (COVID-19), and the second in the post-pandemic including some questions about the changes in the work or academic environment. The results have shown that the project’s participation had a positive impact on the career development of these women, influencing from the hiring to their involvement in other similar actions.

Keywords

• stem
• women in technology
• education
• gender
• career development