About NCWIT

Mission 

NCWIT widens participation in the technology ecosystem through innovative programs and research.

Why we exist

Computing and technology are the vanguard of American innovation, key drivers of the nation’s economic growth, and fundamental to advances in healthcare, national security, and nearly every STEM discipline. Indeed, in 2022, 64% of U.S. patents issued for products, processes, and machines were related to software. Certain technology subfields are advancing quite rapidly, including artificial intelligence, quantum science, and semiconductor chip design. For example, there are now 50 quantum technology master’s degree programs and 180 universities with quantum-related research groups in the United States.

The number of students pursuing these fields is sure to rise. In quantum computing alone the expected market size is expected to be $106 billion by 2040. However, the nation does not have an adequate workforce to fill these needs today.

NCWIT increases participation in the technology ecosystem through innovative programs and research. Our holistic approach, informed by decades of social science research, is unique. As an exemplar organization of the NSF, NCWIT has set the standard for evaluating impact and ensuring our programs are effective and efficient. Our programs work in concert with each other to encourage engineering-thinking early, to encourage high school students to consider technical fields, and to give them a continuing community of support and opportunities for growth and achievement. Evidence shows that ongoing participation in NCWIT’s K-12 programs increases students’ long-term persistence in computing.

Yet, work must continue in postsecondary and corporate environments as well – which NCWIT also brings to the table. Computing departments that join NCWIT perform better than their non-member peers in terms of broadening participation in computing.

As people move into the workforce, addressing subcultures and practices within corporations and other employers becomes a critical factor in their ability to retain their workforces and innovate effectively. For this reason, NCWIT focuses on the systemic nature of change within organizations through our resources, tools, and programs.