ACM-W Champions Gender Parity on Campus

ACM-W, women’s wing of Association for Computing Machinery, is a student chapter at UPES with a women-focussed outlook.

In today’s machine-oriented world where technology is enhancing the way we live, work and play, it really seems quite unfair to see a huge gap in gender parity, especially in the world of technology. There is no question that with proper training, workshops and events, the field of technology can help create a brighter future for women.

The UPES Association for Computing Machinery-Women (ACM-W) Student Chapter, sister chapter of the global organisation, was founded in 2015 and is the first active student chapter of UPES that provides a platform where they can exhibit their knack for technology. At ACM-W, the idea is to create a conducive environment where everyone receives equal opportunities and works hand in hand.

The chapter aims to highlight the fact that women deserve an equal standing alongside men in the field of technology. In a bid to achieve this goal, ACM-W has organised various technical and non-technical events for women over the past few years, including Superwomen and Tech-Xhibition.

ACM-W India Celebrations of Women in Computing (AICWiC) celebrates and supports instilling full engagement of women in the field of computing and technology. It supports women professionally and academically through role-modeling and mentoring in the field of technology. ACM-W, under AICWiC, held the Women Faculty Summit in 2016, an exclusive interaction between leading women in technology, academics and researchers in computing. Dr. Margaret Burnett, a distinguished international speaker, from School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, delivered an intriguing and insightful keynote on Research Experiences for Undergraduates: Best Practices. Our Distinguished Speaker Program (DSP. Dr. Burnett spoke on Womeneconomics and Gender-Inclusive Software: What the Software Industry Needs to Know.

In 2018, UPES ACM-W hosted the ‘ACM-W India Regional Celebration for Women in Computing’. A two-day event, it comprised activities curated exclusively for girls and aimed to make them aware of the endless opportunities that could make them stand out and shine.

For its efforts towards women’s empowerment, ACM-W was awarded the runner-up position for ‘Best Student Chapter’ by ACM India. It believes that putting women’s vision into effect would pave the way for a brighter future.