Swiss TecLadies: a programme to eradicate the dream gap

The dream gap is an unfortunate phenomenon, as proven by a study: from age 5, girls stop believing they can enter certain professions and dream about their future. To address this issue, the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) has created a programme - Swiss TecLadies - dedicated to girls who are passionate about science and technology. Prof. Monica Landoni, adjunct professor at the Faculty of Informatics at Università della Svizzera italiana, spoke with RSI about USI's efforts to increase the number of female students enrolled in its science and technology faculties.

130 young women between the ages of 14 and 19, including 16 from Ticino, participated in the Swiss TecLadies mentoring programme. The programme matches girls passionate about technical or scientific subjects with expert mentors for seven months. Encouraging female participation in this field is crucial, as emphasised by Professor Monica Landoni on the RSI news programme "Il Quotidiano." The adjunct professor at the Faculty of Informatics took part in Swiss Tech Ladies as a mentor. "We are working hard to increase the number of female students enrolled in our Faculty," said Landoni. "Today, in any case, only 20% of our student body is made up of girls. Those that are there are fantastic and very motivated. However, we aim to increase this further".

The project, promoted by the National Academy of Sciences, aims to provide young women with the opportunity to learn and gain hands-on experience in the field of science and technology. Participants expressed enthusiasm and confidence in a future that is more open and inclusive, where they can actively engage in the world of science.

Below is the interview that aired on RSI, "Il Quotidiano". (Italian only)