Students at Repton School Dubai unlock tech skills with Mastercard Girls4Tech program

• Mastercard has reached over 1 million girls across the world through its award-winning Girls4Tech program

Dubai: Repton School Dubai and technology leader Mastercard have collaborated to bring Mastercard’s flagship Girls4Tech STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program to Year 4 and Year 5 students. The initiative focuses on inquiry-based and hands-on activities, delivering exciting real-world challenges based on innovative digital themes.

Launched in 2014, the Mastercard Girls4Tech program has already reached 1 million girls in 30 countries and it recently announced a new goal to reach 5 million girls across the world by 2025 as the company ambitiously fuels a pipeline of future female talent in the tech sector. Mastercard has also pledged to reach 2,020 girls in the region through the program as part of its commitment to Expo 2020 Dubai in its role as the event’s Official Payment Technology Partner.

Repton School Dubai aims to further empower young girls to become the digital leaders of tomorrow and inspire them to pursue STEM careers for greater gender parity through the outstanding STEM program.

David Cook, Headmaster at Repton School Dubai, says, "The STEM curriculum is highly rated globally and is well known for presenting innovative careers of the future. As educators, it is our responsibility to identify and guide our students in recognizing their true potential.”

Beatrice Cornacchia, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Middle East and Africa at Mastercard, said: “To innovate effectively in a way that truly addresses the changing needs of society, it is essential that the public and private sector include gender-diverse perspectives by design. Through Girls4Tech, Mastercard is fuelling the pipeline for future female talent by introducing the possibilities of STEM careers, while also supporting gender balance, diversity and inclusion, which are key to unlocking the long-term sustainable growth that will enable more communities to thrive”.

Girls from Repton School Dubai participated in the online STEM curriculum over multiple weeks, facilitated by expert volunteers from Mastercard. The sessions focused on key digital themes around ‘Encryption’, ‘Detection’ and ‘All Things Digital’, which connect Mastercard’s innovative technology to STEM principles.

Within the Middle East and North Africa region, Mastercard has also introduced its STEM program to Morocco. Additionally, Mastercard will be launching two new programs in the coming months: Girls4Tech 2.0 for girls between the ages of 13 and 16, and Girls4Tech & Code, a 20-week program for girls between the ages of 8 and 10.

“We need to support our students with the necessary skills required to succeed in their preferred future endeavours. Girls4Tech is a pioneering program that has accomplished key milestones in its tenure, and we are proud to be affiliated with Mastercard on this venture,” concluded Cook.

To learn more about Mastercard’s flagship STEM program, please visit: https://www.girls4tech.com 

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About Repton School Dubai 

Repton School Dubai, part of Evolvence Knowledge Investments (EKI), opened its doors in 2007 to offer world-class educational experience for children of all nationalities, from ages 3 to 18 and boarding experience from age 11.  It is a partner school of the reputed Repton School in the United Kingdom, which was founded in 1557 and which continues to boast a stellar reputation in both the academic and sporting fields.  Combining the reputation and academic rigour of the UK curriculum, Repton School Dubai has been consistently rated as “Outstanding” by KHDA inspections and endeavours to promote excellence in every area of a child’s and student’s life at school, within and outside the classroom. 

Repton School Dubai offers a full range of the IGCSE curriculum, in addition to the IB Diploma and IB Career Programme with a choice of 45 subjects to help achieve a deep understanding of varied academic fields. The school has two boarding houses and provides boarding accommodation for students and families, by either full term boarding or a more flexible weekly boarding option.

Both the junior and senior schools are located on a spectacular campus of 1.3 million sq. ft. in Nad Al Sheba 3, making it the largest school in the region.

About Mastercard

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all. 

For media queries, please contact:
Justin Froes
justin.f@qcomms.ae 

© Press Release 2021