Advancing Education, Research, and Innovation: Empowering Women in Computing for a Sustainable Digital Future

This paper explores the myriad ways in which education, research, and innovation can be used to empower women in computing to help them deliver a sustainable digital future. Through a mixed-methods research design, which combines qualitative interviews, scientometric and bibliometric analyses, and comparative quantitative research, the research question explores the lived experiences, barriers, and opportunities of women in the fields of STEM, entrepreneurship, and technology. The methodology will be based on literature reviews and decision-making analyses to determine major drivers of digital empowerment especially in developing settings. Early indicators are that artificial intelligence and digital technologies offer significant positives in helping women to access education, health, and entrepreneurial opportunities particularly in underserved communities. Nevertheless, there still remain some challenges, including the gender digital divide, institutionalised biases, and deeply held gender roles, that limit the overall involvement of women in the world of technology. The paper highlights the effectiveness of interventions, such as gender-sensitive education, inclusive leadership and focused policy actions, to strengthen the independence of women, their competence, and leadership in ICT. In addition, the incorporation of sustainability and digitalisation into highereducation courses also empowers women in the digital economy. As a result, the empowerment of women in computing is seen as an innovation driver, economic, and the achievement of sustainable development objectives which leads to the need to implement comprehensive measures to address the current obstacles and make the digital world gender-neutral.