9 March2022IN FOCUSTeamByIN FOCUSTeamByAUCKLAND UNIVERSITY TO HOST 10 VIRTUAL INTERNSHIPS FOR INDIAN FEMALE STUDENTSThe University of Auckland will offer virtual micro in-ternships to upto ten Indian women students, according to Ed-ucation New Zealand (ENZ). Addi-tionally, 25 female high school stu-dents will be chosen for the virtual exchange program, which will earn them the Global Competence Certif-icate.ENZ said, "A four-week virtual immersion program for 16 Indian women students from New Zealand universities which will be conduct-ed by Symbiosis International Uni-versity. The immersion program is a step in the direction of strength-ened cultural ties and enhanced learning experiences for students".In honour of Worldwide Wom-en's Day, the organization organized its first-ever international wom-en's day summit ­ `Women of the Future'. "Research indicates that good gender equality is for every-one and key to not just achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, but also boost economic growth, enhance produc-tivity, improve development out-comes for the next generation, and make institutions more represen-tative", said David Pine, New Zea-land's High Commissioner to India, during the event.He further said, "The opportuni-ty in India seems to be enormous. McKinsey has estimated that if women's participation were fully equal to men's, the country's GDP could rise by as much as 60 percent. That would mean an overall gain of almost $3 trillion, which is over $2000 per person. In New Zealand, we also have a long way to go, as the same estimates done for New Zealand show a potential gain of 25 percent. It's hard to imagine an-other area of policy with so much untapped potential".Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Minis-ter for Diversity, Inclusion, and Eth-nic Communities, stated, "To address some of the barriers and challenges like the gender pay gap, we need em-ployers to understand and value di-versity ­ and also take tangible steps to be more inclusive. So that means embedding diversity and inclusion in workplace practices. We all have a role to play across various sectors to take collective action to address barriers to women's participation". MCKINSEY HAS ESTIMATED THAT IF WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION WERE FULLY EQUAL TO MEN'S, INDIA'S GDP COULD RISE BY AS MUCH AS 60 PERCENT
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