Women are increasing their presence in technology and seeking qualifications in artificial intelligence.

247 - The presence of women in the technology field has grown in recent years, but still faces challenges to consolidate. Data from the São Paulo State Secretariat for Economic Development (SDE) shows that, of the 88.695 women enrolled in the Qualifica SP program between March 2023 and March 2025, almost 24% (21.119) opted for information and communication technology courses. This number reflects a growing interest in the sector, traditionally dominated by men.

“The IT market is still predominantly male, both in companies and universities. However, at Qualifica SP, diversity was a positive point, as the classes were balanced between genders, and I had the opportunity to learn from female instructors and monitors, which was inspiring. Seeing women occupying prominent positions motivates me to continue on this path,” says Yasmin Alves, 25, who participated in the computer science and artificial intelligence courses offered by the program.

A resident of Jacareí, in the Paraíba Valley, Yasmin worked as a nursing technician, but she always had an interest in technology. In 2024, she decided to begin a degree in Computer Science and complement her training with courses from Qualifica SP. “I had never studied these subjects before and I managed to learn them from scratch. In the AZ-900, for example, I started without a foundation and finished certified by Microsoft,” says the young woman, who took the AZ-900 Cloud Computing and Google Cloud Artificial Intelligence courses.

Advances and challenges

Studies on gender diversity in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector indicate that female presence has been increasing. In 2023, women's participation grew 1,5% more than men's. Between 2020 and 2023, the average annual increase was 7,7%. Qualifica SP seeks to contribute to this scenario by offering free courses aimed at training and integrating women into the technology market.

For Mônica de Souza Oliveira do Nascimento, a professor in the program, qualification is one of the main factors in increasing female presence in the sector. “It’s essential to offer courses and workshops, encourage interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, promote female role models, create mentoring programs and support networks, ensure flexible and inclusive environments, combat gender stereotypes, and invest in events that highlight women’s work in the field,” she explains.

Originally from Salto de Pirapora, in the interior of São Paulo state, Mônica taught classes in the Google GenAI course, a generative artificial intelligence platform that creates content such as texts, images, and audio. She emphasizes that, despite the advances, there are still obstacles to overcome. “In recent years, we have seen women entering these fields, occupying prominent positions and becoming role models. Programs, support communities, and mentorships reduce barriers and increase diversity. However, they face daily challenges, such as an excess of tasks. They perform professional roles, deal with domestic and family responsibilities, which increases pressure and hinders career advancement,” says the professor.

Still, Monica believes that female determination can transform this scenario. "We need to encourage girls and women to see technology as a field where they can grow, lead, and transform the future, without sacrificing other aspects of their lives," she emphasizes.

Registration is open for an artificial intelligence course.

For those who wish to learn more about artificial intelligence, Qualifica SP offers the "AI For Everyone" course, developed in partnership with StartSe. The training is 100% online and asynchronous, allowing students to study at their own pace. Registration can be done through the website. www.qualificasp.sp.gov.br until March 31th.