WiCoDE26 – ACM-W Asia-Pacific Celebration of Women in Computing
By Elakkiya R
WiCoDE26, the ACM-W Asia-Pacific Celebration of Women in Computing (Dubai Buddies Edition 2026), was successfully organized on February 16–17, 2026, at BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus by the ACM-W Dubai Professional Chapter in collaboration with ACM-W Asia Pacific.
The event was conceptualized and led by Prof Elakkiya Rajasekar, Chair of the ACM-W Dubai Professional Chapter, with Prof. Angel Arul Jothi, Chair of the ACM Dubai Professional Chapter, as co-lead. The celebration reflected coordinated efforts across ACM chapters, faculty advisors, student volunteers, and institutional leadership.
The two-day program brought together global ACM-W leadership, faculty members, industry professionals, ACM student chapters, and 96 registered participants from institutions across the UAE for structured leadership dialogue, competitive engagement, and community-building activities.
Day 1: Feb 16, 2026
The event commenced with Opening Remarks, followed by an Invocation Song and the formal WiCoDE26 Inauguration, with ceremonial lamp lighting. The Welcome Address was delivered by Dr Elakkiya R, Chair of the ACM-W Dubai Professional Chapter, outlining the vision behind WiCoDE26 and the need for structured engagement platforms in computing.
The Inaugural Address by Prof. Souri Banerjee, Director, BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, was read on his behalf by Prof. Amitava Mukherjee, as the Director was unavoidably engaged elsewhere. The message emphasized the institution’s commitment to inclusive leadership, academic excellence, and active participation in computing initiatives such as WiCoDE26.
Dr Elakkiya R, Chair of the ACM-W Dubai Professional Chapter
Prof. Bimlesh Wadhwa, Chair, ACM-W Asia Pacific
Ceremonial lamp lighting with Prof. Amitava Mukherjee and Dr. Arati Dixit, ACM-W Regional Activities Chair
The celebration was further strengthened by addresses from Prof. Bimlesh Wadhwa, Chair, ACM-W Asia Pacific and Dr Rukiye Altin, ACM-W Global Chair. Their remarks highlighted global ACM-W initiatives and opportunities for regional expansion.
A distinctive feature of WiCoDE26 was active participation from ACM student chapters. Chapter overviews were presented by Prof. Sujala D Shetty, Faculty In-Charge of BITS ACM Student Chapters and Prof. Soniya Priyatharshini, Faculty In-Charge of MAHE ACM Student Chapter.
Day 1 also featured a structured Panel Discussion on Career Pathways with Dr Dorota Filipczuk (Microsoft), ACM-W Europe Chair, Prof. Bimlesh Wadhwa, ACM-W Asia Pacific Chair, Dr Arati Dixit, ACM-W Regional Activities Chair and Prof Elakkiya Rajasekar, ACM-W Dubai Chapter Chair. The discussion addressed academic and industry trajectories, leadership development, early career choices, and professional growth strategies.
The post-lunch session was dedicated to the WiCoDE26 Ideathon Challenge. Students worked in teams under a theme provided by ACM-W leadership and presented structured solutions during the Pitch Presentation session. The Ideathon was evaluated by Dr Ganga Bhavani, Dr Archana Pandita, Dr Afreen from Amity University Dubai and Dr Komathi Jayakeran from Symbiosis University. The activity emphasized problem framing, collaboration, innovation, and confident presentation.
Day 2: Feb 17, 2026
On Day 2, Tech Fun, an interactive segment was hosted by the ACM MAHE Student Chapter, and trivia was hosted by the ACM Birmingham Student Chapter. In addition, students from BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, University of Birmingham Dubai, MAHE Dubai, and Amity University Dubai actively participated in activities and panel discussions, strengthening cross-institutional collaboration in the UAE ACM ecosystem.
The UAE currently hosts nine ACM chapters, seven student chapters and two professional chapters, and WiCoDE26 served as a unifying platform for regional engagement.
Day 2 included the Poster Creation Challenge, allowing students to visually articulate computing concepts, social impact themes, and technology-driven solutions. The session encouraged creative expression within a structured evaluation framework.
A dedicated panel on ACM-W Community Opportunities and Growth was conducted by Dr Rukiye Altin, Dr Arati Dixit, Dr Leyla Atakan, Dr Dorota Filipczuk and Prof Elakkiya. The discussion focused on ACM-W scholarships, sustaining chapters, mentorship networks, regional collaboration, and undergraduate engagement pathways.
The Valedictory Ceremony marked the formal conclusion of WiCoDE26 and was graced by Prof. Souri Banerjee, Director, BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, who joined the session and addressed the gathering. During the ceremony, the Director presented certificates to all participants and student volunteers, with the ACM-W Chairs and the organising leadership joining in the presentation, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the event.
The ceremony concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Prof. Angel Arul Jothi, ACM Dubai Chapter Chair. The event reflected coordinated efforts across ACM chapters, faculty advisors, student volunteers, and institutional leadership.
WiCoDE26 achieved structured ACM-W visibility in the UAE, cross-chapter collaboration, active undergraduate engagement, regional alignment with ACM-W Asia Pacific, and leadership interaction at a global scale. The event established a strong foundation for scaling future ACM-W celebrations in the region.