“Women can do it best”: A story of Bollywood dreams and IT
Richa is always shocked when people express surprise at the fact that she works in IT. She is studying for the Swiss Joint Master of Science in Computer Science at the Universities of Bern, Neuchâtel and Fribourg. In this interview, she talks about living her Bollywood dream, the gender gap in IT and why she passionately believes that more women should study computer science.
Richa, why did you choose to study at the University of Bern?
I grew up in a rural farming community in India, and we used to watch all the Bollywood movies. I loved seeing the snowy landscapes of Switzerland. Some of those films and songs also feature the old town of Bern, with the trams driving through it. Now I take tram number eight to work – I still remember it from a movie. To me, it feels like I am living the dream of thousands of Indians.
Is studying and working in Bern different compared to India?
I am studying for the Bern-Neuchâtel-Fribourg Master in Computer Science and love that I can choose courses from all three universities. The programme contains a lot of practical assignments and projects in collaboration with the IT industry. In my Bachelor studies at Solapur University in India, everything was theoretical. I did not get much exposure to the practical side of my job. I learned that afterwards when I worked as a programmer for Accenture.
You also hold a part-time job?
Yes, I work at the Institute of Educational Science for the IT helpdesk. Since it’s a support job, I get to interact with a lot of people and that helps me understand the Swiss culture. Here people are very patient and let things develop naturally, whereas in India many things feel rushed.
Everyone at the Institute of Educational Science is so encouraging. People tell me they are glad to see me working in this position because there is a large gender gap in IT in Switzerland. Here, only about 20% of employees working in IT are women.
“There are a lot of opportunities for women who want to step into the world of technology.”
Richa Tamhane
Why do you think the IT sector in Switzerland has such a large gender gap?
In my classes, there are rarely more than one or two women. In India, it’s the other way round: Approximately 80% of people in computer science are women. I am always shocked when people react with surprise when I tell them what I do. They often say something like “oh that’s a smart job”.
I think girls in Switzerland are underestimating themselves – they should not! This is something I feel passionately about, and it is why I work as a volunteer at Women in Digital Switzerland.
There are a lot of opportunities for women who want to step into the world of technology, such as excellent universities, fellowships and traineeships. The future of this field is exciting because so much groundbreaking research is happening at the moment.
What would you say to girls and women thinking about working in IT?
If I can work in IT, so can you! As women, we can do the job best and there is an urgent need for us in this field! You have so many opportunities here in Switzerland; don’t take them for granted and give yourself a chance!
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Images: Richa Tamhane
Text: Caspar Bienek