Women take tech skills to new heights
TWO University of Otago students with a passion for education and technology say they were honoured to be recognised by the AsiaNew Zealand Foundation.
A ceremony recognising 25 young people contributing to New Zealand’s relationship with Asia, ‘‘25 to Watch’’, was held last week at Parliament, marking the end of the foundation’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Thirdyear Otago student Elora Chang (22) was studying and working in information science and software engineering, and made the list in the education, science and research category.
Last year, Ms Chang was awarded a Google Women Techmakers scholarship, one of 70 awarded from a field of 25,000 people from 14 countries throughout the AsiaPacific area, which allowed her to travel to Singapore with Google and gain some exposure to ‘‘the other types of women who were working in that field from Asia’’.
Her connection to Asia, through her own Chinese heritage, was a ‘‘huge part of her life’’, she said.
After she graduated she was looking for opportunities to work in Asia, in the technology sector.
‘‘It will be pretty cool to kind of go in that direction.’’
Among other projects Ms Chang has started a small cooking school and catering business with her sister,
Chelsea, called Madame Lu’s, and she has been involved in online content creation for various foodrelated businesses.
Secondyear psychology and gender studies student Ms Aizal (20), originally from Malaysia, was also recognised in the education, science and research category and said she was ‘‘really humbled’’ to be recognised along with ‘‘other amazing people’’.
She is the international students’ representative on Otago University Students’ Association in 2020, and has been a Kiwi ambassador for Education New Zealand and an ambassador for the university.
‘‘I do a lot of activities around marketing, and international students’ wellbeing.’’
She was impressed by gender studies in New Zealand which she said was ‘‘very open’’, and she hoped to take what she had learned back to Asia to help with the empowerment of women.