Microsoft ADC Launches WINS To Bridge Gender Gap

No photo availableCIO Africa authorByJoan Kaberia
2 min read
This year-long mentorship initiative brings together 70 female students pursuing tech-related courses at various Kenyan universities.
L-R Catherine Muraga, Managing Director Microsoft ADC, Marjan Hussein, Student at Multimedia University and Kua Gyekye, Government Affairs and Legal Director at Microsoft ATO during the launch of the mentorship program called Women Inspiring and Nurturing Students (WINS) which will bring together approximately 70 young women pursuing tech-related courses at various universities across Kenya with women working at Microsoft for a year-long mentorship [Photo: Courtesy]

Microsoft’s Africa Development Centre (ADC) has launched the Women Inspiring and Nurturing Students (WINS) program to address the gender gap in tech education.

The year-long mentorship initiative brings together 70 female students pursuing tech-related courses at various Kenyan universities.

Catherine Muraga, Microsoft ADC Managing Director, emphasized the program’s significance during the launch, which coincided with International Women’s Day saying, “Women face numerous obstacles to achieving equal participation in many fields, including the technology industry. There aren’t many young women who pursue technology courses in their tertiary education, and those who do often switch to other courses or drop out along the way. Pairing learners with mentors will be critical to encouraging course completion and opening doors for them as they transition from the classroom to the workplace.”

Statistics from the 2021 UNESCO Science Report support Muraga’s claims, highlighting the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields such as digital information technology, computing, physics, mathematics, and engineering, despite progress in overall female university enrollment. The report also reveals a concerning trend of women leaving the tech sector due to unfavorable working conditions, stagnant careers, and a lack of access to creative roles.

WINS joins other Microsoft ADC initiatives aimed at growing representation of women in tech, such as campus tours, faculty skilling initiatives, the Game of Learners program, and now ADC WINS, where we are investing time, resources, and expertise to build representation of women in STEM in universities.

“We believe that diversity can drive innovation and progress. The WINS program demonstrates our commitment to making the tech industry more inclusive and equitable. By providing women with the necessary tools and support, we hope to reshape the future of technology. It is linked to our broader diversity and inclusion objectives, whose achievement will demonstrate that we are empowering everyone to do more,” Ms. Muraga added.

The first cohort consists of 70 students chosen from various universities, including the University of Nairobi, Kabarak University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, United States International University-Africa, Dedan Kimathi University, Multimedia University, St. Paul’s University, Machakos University, and Zetech University.

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