Zarnigor Rakhimova, a graduate from Bukhara province, made a remarkable achievement by winning bronze at the European Girls’ Olympiad in Informatics (EGOI) in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. With the support of Ucell, her success not only brought pride to Uzbekistan, but also served as a beacon of hope for girls in the IT sector. A stereotype that software engineering is not a suitable field for women still exists. From a young age, girls are directed towards studying humanities, and their interest in exact sciences is not encouraged. Lack of support and the belief that computer science is exclusively for men has discouraged many talented girls from pursuing careers in the IT sector. However, significant efforts are being made to break down this bias and promote gender equality and empower women. This progress is evident in Uzbekistan’s increasing opportunities in the IT sector and Zarnigor Rakhimova’s victory at the European Olympiad in Informatics.
In today’s world where technology is pervasive, IT skills are no longer just an advantage, but a necessity. Uzbekistan’s proactive approach in developing the digital economy and providing equal opportunities for all genders to learn these skills is a step in the right direction. The country has implemented educational programs focused on teaching children software engineering and robotics, and regularly holds competitions and olympiads in these disciplines. In June of this year, the ICT4Girls Olympiad was held in Uzbekistan, with 242 girls from across the country participating. From the first stage, 45 students were selected based on their performance in coding languages such as C++ and Python. After an intensive training boot camp, four participants were chosen to represent Uzbekistan at the European Girls’ Olympiad in Informatics.
The EGOI is a coding competition exclusively for girls, following the example of the European Mathematical Olympiad. Participants not only solve complex tasks and develop algorithms, but also have the opportunity to meet successful women in the IT industry. This is important because the majority of coding teachers are men. The EGOI was launched in 2021 in Zurich, Switzerland, and has since been held in different cities of the participating countries. The primary goal of the Olympiad is to allow young women to showcase their skills and interests in computer science.
Uzbekistan’s national team, consisting of Zarnigor Rakhimova, Oysha Mirzatillaeva, Malika Khojamuratova, and Solikha Dagarova, arrived in Eindhoven, Netherlands on July 21st to participate in the EGOI. Around 200 representatives from 57 countries took part in this prestigious competition. Zarnigor Rakhimova secured a bronze medal with 329 points after two rounds of competition.
“I am 18 years old and graduated from school No. 12 in Bukhara province. My computer science teacher inspired me to pursue a career in the IT field, and my family has always supported me. Participating in the International Olympiad made me realize that biases should not hold us back. The idea that coding is not for girls is completely wrong,” said Zarnigor Rakhimova, the EGOI bronze medalist.
Asal Babaeva, the team leader and chief expert of the Department of Digital Development at the Ministry of Digital Technologies, emphasized the importance of support for talented girls in the IT industry. She also mentioned that the experience gained from participating in the Olympiad will significantly contribute to the development of the IT sector in Uzbekistan. Upon their return, the team was warmly welcomed by representatives from the Ministry of Digital Technologies and the Center for the Development of Digital Education. All the girls are determined to participate in the Informatics Olympiad again next year and bring home more medals.
Ucell, the largest cellular operator in Uzbekistan, sponsored the team’s participation in the EGOI. Elvira Settarova from Grand PR also played a key role in organizing the team’s trip to the Netherlands.