IBM SkillsBuild

#TheFutureisMine

IBM SkillsBuild earlier known as IBM STEM for Girls (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is a  digital fluency and life skills  curriculum designed to  help girls in government  secondary schools break  gender stereotypes and  explore the possibilities of  STEM-enabled careers, developed in collaboration  with Quest Alliance.

Why IBM SkillsBuild (STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics for Girls)?

STEM for girls India

There is a need to create  an enabling ecosystem  where girls are encouraged  and supported to explore  careers in Science,  Technology, Engineering  and Mathematics (STEM).

Only 44% of undergraduate students across India  are women and even fewer pursue careers in  STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics).

Why IBM SkillsBuild (STEM for Girls) at School level?

  • Generate interest of the students and create an environment where they want to explore and continue their schooling thereby reducing the dropout rate
  • India’s percentage of scientists, engineers and technologists who are women is only 14%
  • Students will be equipped with skills which will open up new career path for them
  • Jobs in the next decade that will require STEM is going to rise by 80% in India
  • STEM careers offer higher pay and longevity by 24%
  • To create a generation of students who do critical thinking and generate ideas to solve the problems especially concentrating on sustainability
  • Provide practical Experiences
  • Show real life connection
  • Provide 21st century skills
  • To generate interest of students to continue for higher studies

Challenges: Dropout Rate: 2019-2020

Dimapur District

Male

Female

Total

Class 6-8

19.43

17.97

18.72

Class 9-10

30.77

25.27

28.16

Kohima District

Male

Female

Total

Class 6-8

26.97

29.07

28.03

Class 9-10

31.13

31.24

31.19

National Average

Male

Female

Total

Class 6-8

0.07

0.00

0.00

Class 9-10

10.25

11.58

10.94

The applications received in the year 2020 for Class 11 Admission in Government Higher Secondary Schools in Nagaland.

Statistics of Applications  (Stream wise)

Name of Stream

Total

Male

Female

Arts

4820

2285

2535

Science

465

239

226

Commerce

170

100

70

Total

5455

2624

2831

Strategies for Student Engagement

Enablers for Class Room Delivery

Curriculum

A curriculum for grades 8 to 10 focused on building coding projects, gender sensitization, building 21st century skills and career exploration to understand STEM careers. We use MIT’s Scratch platform to introduce coding. The methodology uses experiential and project-based activities. Share-out events play an important role in creating spaces for student expression.

Capacity Building

Facilitators play a key role in curriculum delivery at the school. The support of teachers is very important for effective delivery at the school level. Thus, we have a capacity building model for both. It is a balance between building perspective, introducing future technology and work trends, and building facilitation skills. In 2021, 7,330 teachers were trained to become 21st century facilitators with increased awareness on teaching techniques, the gender divide in STEM, and the need for building STEM mindsets among students.

Volunteering

IBM volunteers play an important role in the learning experience. They contribute to the Scratch coding sessions, sharing their career journeys and helping students build their career pathways.

Key Strategies for Strategic Focus Areas

Role Model Interactions (RMIs)

In 2020, the program introduced Role Model interactions as a key strategy to demystify STEM careers and mindsets by having women, who have overcome barriers in their personal and professional lives, speak to students. 187 role model interactions were conducted in 2021, which reached 45,538 students and increased awareness about different career opportunities.

Hackathons and Ideathons

1,08,433 students participated in Ideathons conducted across 8 states in 2021. Selected 4296 students participated in Hackathons, and created prototypes in 49 physical camps and 1 online camp. By seeding ideas and generating innovations, these sessions enriched the STEM mindset of students. 283 facilitators and 58 teachers were trained on the Ideathon process, who in turn led the processes in schools.

Parent Engagement

As a result of the blended model, parent engagement and involvement are enhanced. As learning moved inside the home, parents had easier access to their
children. Parents also took part in the RMIs, webinars and engaged with the IVRS messages. As of March 2022, 1,19,236 parents were engaged by facilitators
through WhatsApp messages, phone calls, and in-person visits to discuss career pathways of their children, and student well-being and progress.

YouthNet in partnership with IBM, Department of School Education, Government of Nagaland and Quest Alliance

Youthnet signs MoU with IBM, the Department of School Education, Govt. of Nagaland and Quest Alliance to implement STEM for Girls among adolescent girls and boys studying in selected Government Secondary Schools in Nagaland in the current academic year i.e. 2021-2022.

stem for girls mou

IBM SkillsBuild (STEM for Girls) District coverage in Nagaland

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