On 27th September 2018, the Information Technology Society Solomon Islands was invited at the launch of the Australia - Solomon Islands Technology for Development Challenge. The challenge was launched by the Australian Ambassador for Cyber Affairs, Dr Tobias Feakin.
The Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands revealed that the challenge was aimed at seeking "new ideas on how to close the chasm between skills learnt at school and those needed in the marketplace". The road to industrial transformation is often less challenging for countries that have the financial capabilities required for such a transformation. However, countries like the Solomon Islands risk falling behind and rely on technology transfers through international assistance like this challenge.
ITSSI President Marlon Houkarawa was very excited about the launch of this initiative because "it provides an avenue for entrepreneurs, especially those in the technology sector, to create solutions to bridge this gap." The whole idea of our education curriculum is based on the basic question "Education for what?" and so this allows our people to address this question through "a creative process that harnesses the use of technology to identify missing links in our curriculum", he added. Also attending the launch was the leadership core of the Women in Technology Solomon Islands, WITSI, which is a group specifically for women members of ITSSI to have a platform to pursue technology issues relevant to women.
"While we are a body under ITSSI, we are fully autonomous and our primary goal is advocacy for women in the sector and encouraging young women in the country to pursue studies in the field of computing or sciences." said Alice Alisae-Aote'e. An active member of ITSSI and WITSI Ms Aote'e encourages women to challenge themselves by participating in this initiative. "Women will bring a very unique perspective to technology, as it is with other areas of development, but this is a sector where we are severely underrepresented but we can make a lot of difference by participating and having our views heard too."
The Ambassador for Cyber Affairs, Dr Tobias Feakin reiterated the challenge statement which reads, “How might we connect and support young people in the Solomon Islands to maximise their skills and education to access jobs across the country and internationally?”
Closing date is 10 December 2018. For further information Contact: tech4dev [at] dfat.gov.au