MasterCard has teamed up with Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship and Shanghai Be Better Education to bring its Girls4Tech program to China.

The hands-on, inquiry-based curriculum aims to uphold MasterCard's principles of business to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The full-day program will allow women learn by interacting in experiences that showcase the different kinds of skills required to pursue a career in STEM.

Like Us on Facebook

 "There have been quite a few innovation programs in recent years that are helping Chinese children to become change-makers," Alan Wang, Be Better CEO and co-founder, said. "We're pleased to have the chance to promote STEM and have it as part of the Be Better curriculum."

The program, which will kick off on September 15 in Shanghai, targets to reach an estimated 30,000 young girl participants in classrooms across 10 Chinese cities.

"It is important to instill greater confidence in girls at a very young age, especially in STEM subjects," Linda Chiu, director of NFTE Licensed Partners, said, adding that the program is a unique and creative chance to allow young girls to reflect of their future selves.

"While our inaugural Girls in Tech research indicates some promising trends around girls studying STEM subjects, there are still many concerns about their career decision after graduation," Ling Hai, co-president of MasterCard Asia/Pacific, said, noting that hands-on and experimental programs like this can help not only in addressing low confidence and gender balance perception but also in molding young women to become problem solvers.

Launched in April 2014, over 5,000 young girls and a thousand MasterCard employee mentors have taken part in the Girls4Tech program from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Germany, England, India, Italy, UAE, and the United States.

TagsMasterCard, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Shanghai Be Better Education, Girls4Tech, Science, technology, engineering and math, STEM