POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR GENDER BALANCE
IN INFORMATICS
Acknowledgemen
This publica ion is based upon wo k om COST Ac ion EUGAIN CA19122 (Eu opean Ne wo k Fo
Gende Balance in In o ma ics), suppo ed by COST (Eu opean Coope a ion in Science and Technology).
www.cos .eu
EUGAIN ea u es mo e han 160 membe s om o e 45 coun ies, including 5
non-Eu opean ones. I s main aim is o imp o e gende balance in In o ma ics
h ough he c ea ion and s eng hening o a uly mul i-cul u al Eu opean
ne wo k o academics wo king a he o e on o he e o s in hei coun ies,
ins i u ions and esea ch communi ies. I builds on hei knowledge, expe iences,
s uggles, successes, and ailu es, lea ning and sha ing wha has wo ked and how
i could be ans e ed o o he ins i u ions and coun ies.
In o ma ics Eu ope, he G an Holde ins i u ion o EUGAIN COST Ac ion,
uni es and empowe s he Educa ion & Resea ch In o ma ics communi y ac oss
Eu ope. I connec s o e 50,000 esea che s om 200+ membe ins i u ions
spanning 30+ coun ies. The o ganisa ion ad oca es o sha ed p io i ies and
suppo s policy making in Educa ion, Resea ch and he Social Impac o
in o ma ics in Eu ope. EUGAIN builds upon he g oundwo k laid by he
In o ma ics Eu ope Women in In o ma ics Resea ch and Educa ion (WIRE)
Wo king G oup, which has since e ol ed in o he Di e si y & Inclusion Wo king
G oup. Mo e in o ma ion: www.in o ma ics-eu ope.o g
COST (Eu opean Coope a ion in Science and Technology) is a unding agency o esea ch and inno a ion
ne wo ks. Ou Ac ions help connec esea ch ini ia i es ac oss Eu ope and enable scien is s o g ow hei
ideas by sha ing hem wi h hei pee s. This boos s hei esea ch, ca ee and inno a ion.
This deli e able p o ides a se o policy ecommenda ions di ec ed o
policymake s, a na ional and Eu opean le el. This documen con ains
concise and p ac ical measu es ha policymake s can adop o suppo
gende equi y in In o ma ics. While he COST Ac ion is named “Eu opean
Ne wo k o Gende Balance in In o ma ics”, we do see gende equi y as he
mos impo an pa adigm o s i e o .
We ha e iden i ied ou a ge audiences: Schools, Uni e si ies, Public
Adminis a ion and P i a e Sec o . Fo each o hese audiences, we ha e
esea ched he cu en s a e o p ac ice and in es iga ed pa hways o
imp o ing bo h educa ion and ca ee pa hs in a numbe o scien i ic s udies.
In each o he ollowing chap e s you ind a ision and mission s a emen ,
hen an o e iew o he cu en eali y, and inally a se o ecommenda ions.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Alicia Julia Wilson Takaoka
No wegian Uni e si y o Science and Technology, No way
An inisca Di Ma co
Uni e si y o L'Aquila, I aly
Be a Ujkani
Uni e si y o Mi o ica, Koso o
Bi gi Penzens adle
Chalme s ekniska högskola, Sweden, and Lappeen an a Uni e si y o Technology, Finland
Claudia Ma ia Cu upi
No wegian Uni e si y o Science and Technology, No way
El a Leka
Poly echnic Uni e si y o Ti ana, Albania
En ico Na delli
Uni e si à di Roma "To Ve ga a", I aly
Fanni Bobák
Ex An e Consul ing L d., Hunga y
F ancesca Alessand a Lisi
Uni e si y o Ba i Aldo Mo o, I aly
Gio anni S ilo
Uni e si y o L'Aquila, I aly
J. Da id Pa ón-Rome o
Simula Me opoli an Cen e o Digi al Enginee ing (SimulaMe ), No way
Jane Hills on
Uni e si y o Edinbu gh, Uni ed Kingdom
Ka ima Boudaoud
Uni e si é Cô e d'Azu , F ance
Lenu a Alboaie
Alexand u Ioan Cuza Uni e si y, Romania
Małgo za a Bie nacka
Uni e si y o W ocław, Poland
Mi anda Ha izaj
Poly echnic Uni e si y o Ti ana, Albania
Nehi Yasan-Ak
Akdeniz Uni e si y, Tu kiye
Salome Shaka ish ili
Minis y o Educa ion and Science o Geo gia, Geo gia
Simona Mo ogna
Babes Bolyai Uni e si y, Romania
Sonay Cane -Yıldı ım
E zincan Binali Yıldı ım Uni e si y, Tu kiye
AUTHORS
TABLE OF
CONTENT
School...........................................................................
Recommenda ions.................................................
Vision & Mission........................................................
Cu en Reali y...........................................................
Re e ences....................................................................
06
02
03
14
04
Uni e si y.....................................................................
Recommenda ions.................................................
Vision & Mission........................................................
Cu en Reali y...........................................................
Re e ences....................................................................
19
15
16
23
17
Public Adminis a ion.............................................
Recommenda ions.................................................
Vision & Mission........................................................
Cu en Reali y...........................................................
Re e ences....................................................................
28
24
25
31
26
P i a e Sec o .............................................................
Recommenda ions.................................................
Vision & Mission........................................................
Cu en Reali y...........................................................
Re e ences....................................................................
36
32
33
42
34
In oduc ion............................................................... 01
Conclusion.................................................................. 43
Women a e unde ep esen ed in In o ma ics a all le els, om unde g adua e and
g adua e s udies o pa icipa ion and leade ship in academia and indus y. The main
aim and objec i e o EUGAIN, he COST Ac ion named “Eu opean Ne wo k o Gende
Balance in In o ma ics” is o imp o e gende equi y in In o ma ics a all le els
h ough he c ea ion o a Eu opean ne wo k o colleagues wo king on he o e on o
he e o s o gende equi y in In o ma ics in hei coun ies and esea ch
communi ies.
We p o ide a se o policy ecommenda ions di ec ed o policymake s, a na ional
and Eu opean le el. We gi e concise and p ac ical measu es ha policymake s can
adop o suppo gende equi y in In o ma ics. We use In o ma ics o deno e he
scien i ic and echnical discipline a he basis o he digi al wo ld, including also i s
impac on human beings and socie y. Howe e , we o en use he abb e ia ion
in o ma ion and communica ion echnologies (ICT) o when we speak o he la ge
con ex and ield o employmen , o when we quo e s a is ics. The ocus o his body
o wo k is on In o ma ics.
We ha e iden i ied ou a ge audiences: Schools, Uni e si ies, Public
Adminis a ion and P i a e Sec o . Fo each o hese audiences, we ha e esea ched
he cu en s a e o p ac ice and in es iga ed pa hways o imp o ing bo h educa ion
and ca ee pa hs in a numbe o scien i ic s udies. The de ailed esul s o hose
s udies a e ci ed in he ollowing chap e s as well as a ailable on ou websi e
h ps://eugain.eu/ esul s/.
In each o he ollowing chap e s you ind a ision and mission s a emen , hen an
o e iew o he cu en eali y, and inally a se o ecommenda ions.
Wi h his deli e able we hope o inspi e policy make s a all le els, om p eschool
ins uc o o minis e o educa ion, o ake ac ion and suppo o mo e gende
equi y in In o ma ics.
In all a eas o wo k we need suppo i e, c ea i e and welcoming en i onmen s.
Fu he mo e, socie y ge s called o clea ly communica e o women ha we a e
expe iencing a momen o e olu ion due o he push o digi aliza ion and i women
a e no ac i ely wo king in he ICT sec o s hey will once again ind hemsel es in a
wo ld de ined by men and he e o e less sui able o women. Fu he mo e, we
ecommend a spli o ca e wo k and ac ions o allow women and men o ake ca e
equally o child en and pa en s ha need help on all le els o legisla ion.
Please enjoy you ead
🙂
INTRODUCTION
01
SCHOOL
02
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High Le el Policy o S akeholde s
GENDER BALANCE IN INFORMATICS
VISION & MISSION
Ou ision is o es ablish In o ma ics as a
undamen al and dis inc subjec wi hin compulso y
educa ion ac oss he Eu opean Union. We aspi e o
cul i a e a gene a ion o ci izens p o icien no only
in he use o digi al echnologies bu also in hei
c ea ion and c i ical e alua ion. We en isage a
u u e whe e s uden s a e equipped o na iga e,
unde s and, and shape he digi al socie y, ee om
p ejudices and s e eo ypes ha o en in il a e
digi al ools and sys ems. In his digi ally
empowe ed socie y, In o ma ics educa ion is
ecognized as an au onomous scien i ic discipline,
o e ing unique pe spec i es on bo h na u al and
a i icial phenomena and os e ing c i ical hinking,
collabo a ion, and social esponsibili y.
Ou mission is o in eg a e In o ma ics in o he
school cu iculum as an independen subjec ,
emphasizing i s scien i ic and c ea i e aspec s
beyond me e echnological usage. We a e
commi ed o de eloping comp ehensi e
educa ional esou ces and gende - esponsi e
pedagogical app oaches, ensu ing inclusi i y and
di e si y in he class oom. Th ough hese e o s,
we aim o p o ide op imal educa ional expe iences
ha p omo e gende equali y and p epa e all
s uden s, especially women, o a u u e in
In o ma ics. We s i e o c ea e a suppo i e
ne wo k o s uden s, educa o s, and communi y
membe s, all wo king oge he o b eak down
ba ie s and pa e he way o inclusi e and
equi able pa icipa ion in he ield o In o ma ics.
Vision
Mission
03
School
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Pe sis en Gende Dispa i ies:1.
Despi e ongoing e o s, signi ican p og ess in educing gende dispa i ies
in In o ma ics has been limi ed (Lo enz e al., 2021; Cha leswo h & Banaji,
2019; Mas e e al., 2021).
The Eu opean Commission's epo (EC, 2022) emphasizes he need o
ea ly engagemen o gi ls in In o ma ics o comba s e eo ypes and
inc ease in e es .
Iden i ied Main Causes:2.
EUGAIN's in es iga ion highligh s ou key a eas: access, s e eo ypes,
con idence, and sense o belonging (see Figu e below).
Access3.
Gi ls o en lack exposu e o In o ma ics, wi h limi ed access o echnology
and ela ed ex acu icula ac i i ies (Happe & Buhno a, 2021; Sahin &
Misi li, 2023; Gi ls Who Code, 2019).
Inc easing access o ea ly educa ional p og ams in In o ma ics has shown
posi i e impac s on gi ls' in e es in he ield.
Figu e: Main causes o pe sis en gende dispa i ies
Access
Low access o
sui able educa ion
o gi ls o encou age
hem in o In o ma ics
Con idence
Lack o con idence in
speci ic abili ies and
skills o In o ma ics
S e eo ypes
Se e al s e eo ypes om
a a ie y o sou ces -pe sonal,
amily/cul u e, eache s,
media- d i e gi ls away om
he domain
Sense o belonging
Lea ning en i onmen
can lack inclusi i y,
pa icula ly o gi ls
CURRENT REALITY School
04
P omo e an Inclusi e Class oom Cul u e
P o ide a Real-Li e Pe spec i e
RECOMMENDATIONS School
11
Ensu e a posi i e en i onmen ha alues di e si y and mu ual
espec .
Wo k wi h local ech companies and nonp o i s o p o ide eal-
wo ld expe iences in In o ma ics.
Fo School P incipals
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Inspi e wi h Role Models
Ad oca e Ea ly In o ma ics Exposu e
RECOMMENDATIONS School
Fo Teache s
12
In oduce In o ma ics p inciples ea ly and make hem engaging.
Use pe sonal expe iences and s o ies o mo i a e s uden s and
b eak s e eo ypes.
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Fos e a Gende -Inclusi e En i onmen
C ea e a espec ul and inclusi e a mosphe e in he class oom.
Emphasize Social Impac h ough P ojec s
RECOMMENDATIONS School
13
Engage s uden s in in e disciplina y p ojec s ha add ess eal-
wo ld p oblems.
Fo Teache s
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REFERENCES
14
Cha leswo h, Tessa E.S., Banaji Mahza in R. - Gende in Science, Technology, Enginee ing, and Ma hema ics: Issues,
Causes, Solu ions, Jou nal o Neu oscience, Sep embe 2019, 39 (37) 7228-7243; DOI:
h ps://doi.o g/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0475-18.2019
Eu opean Commission/EACEA/Eu ydice (2022). In o ma ics educa ion a school in Eu ope. Luxembou g: Publica ion
O ice o he Eu opean Union.
Gi ls Who Code - 2019 Ad ocacy Repo , h ps://gi lswhocode.com/wp-
con en /uploads/2019/06/GWC_Ad ocacy_2019K12Repo _PDF-min-1.pd
Happe, Lucia, Buhno a, Ba bo a, Kaziolek, Anne, Wagne , Ingo. (2021). “E ec i e measu es o os e gi ls’ in e es in
seconda y compu e science educa ion”. In: Educa ion and In o ma ion Technologies 26, pp. 2811–2829. DOI:
10.1007/s10639-020-10379-x
Lo enz, Bi gy, Kikkas, Kaido, & Sõme , Tiia (2021, Oc obe ). IT as a Ca ee Choice o Gi ls: B eaking he (Sel -Imposed)
Glass Ceiling. In ECEL 2021 20 h Eu opean Con e ence on e-Lea ning (pp. 266–274).
Mas e , Allison, Mel zo , And ew, N., Che yan Sapna. 2021. Gende s e eo ypes abou in e es s s a ea ly and
cause gende dispa i ies in compu e science and enginee ing. PNAS 118(48):e2100030118
Na delli, En ico, Co adini, Isabella. (2019). “In o ma ics Educa ion in School: A Mul i-Yea La ge-Scale S udy on
Female Pa icipa ion and Teache s’ Belie s”, 12 h In .Con . on In o ma ics in Schools: Si ua ion, E olu ion, and
Pe spec i es (ISSEP-2019), pp.53-67, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-33759-9_5
Şahin Tima , Zeynep, Mısı lı, Özge. (2023). E ec i e S a egies o Encou aging Gi ls in In o ma ics. In: An ona, M.,
S ephanidis, C. (eds) Uni e sal Access in Human-Compu e In e ac ion. HCII 2023. Lec u e No es in Compu e
Science, ol 14021. Sp inge , Cham. h ps://doi.o g/10.1007/978-3-031-35897-5_27
To es-Ramos, Sulema, Faja do-Robledo, Nic e, S., Pé ez-Ca illo, Lou des, A., Cas illo-C uz, Claudia, Re amoza-Vega
Pa icia, del R., Rod íguez-Be ancou , Ve onica, M., Ne i-Co és C is ina. Men o s as Female Role Models in STEM
Disciplines and Thei Bene i s. Sus ainabili y. 2021; 13(23):12938. h ps://doi.o g/10.3390/su132312938
Vainionpää, Fanny; Kinnula, Ma ianne; Ii a i, Ne a; and Molin-Juus ila, Tonja, (2019). "GIRLS’ CHOICE - HY WON’T
THEYPICK IT?". In P oceedings o he 27 h Eu opean Con e ence on In o ma ion Sys ems ECIS), S ockholm &
Uppsala, Sweden, June8-14, 2019. ISBN 978-1-7336325-0-8 Resea ch Pape s. h ps://aisel.aisne .o g/ecis2019_ p/31
PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
15
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UNIVERSITY
High Le el Policy o S akeholde s
GENDER BALANCE IN INFORMATICS
Ou ision is o ans o m uni e si ies in o spaces
ha ac i ely challenge he eluc ance and
emba assmen su ounding discussions o
inclusi eness and equal oppo uni ies. By b eaking
down hese s e eo ypes and cul u al ba ie s,
uni e si ies can os e open dialogue and ain
indi iduals o become champions o inclusion and
equali y, upholding he p inciples ha o m he
ounda ion o mode n democ a ic socie ies.
Uni e si ies ha e a c ucial ole in empowe ing di e se
alen and d i ing he agenda o gende balance and
inclusi i y. By celeb a ing di e si y as a ca alys o
inno a ion and socie al well-being, uni e si ies will
con ibu e o a mo e jus and equi able wo ld. We
en ision a u u e whe e uni e si ies no only
acknowledge gende di e si y bu celeb a e i ,
b eaking down ba ie s wi hin academia and beyond.
Ou mission is o suppo uni e si ies in deli e ing
ac ions ha aim o ec ui and e ain women and
p omo e gende balance in In o ma ics. Uni e si ies
should become dynamic en i onmen s o gende
inclusi eness and di e si y, encou aging he
collabo a i e c ea ion o educa ional and scien i ic
se ings ha alue and dissemina e gende - ela ed
knowledge. We a e commi ed o suppo ing bo h
ec o s and acul y o empowe equal oppo uni ies
o hei s uden s and employees and ensu e gende
balance ac oss all le els. The success o gende -
inclusi e p ac ices will encou age he de elopmen
o a mo e di e se communi y whe e women may
h i e and con ibu e o scien i ic ad ancemen ha
adequa ely ep esen s he wo ld in all i s di e si y.
Vision
Mission
16
VISION & MISSION
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Uni e si y
Female Unde - ep esen a ion in In o ma ics1.
Wo k o ce Rep esen a ion: Women held only 15.9% o In o ma ics oles
in he EU in 2021, down om 17.2% in 2020. (Eu os a , 2022)
Academic Pipeline: Simila unde ep esen a ion is e iden in academia,
wi h women less p esen in In o ma ics.
Pe sis en Gaps in Academic Ca ee 2.
Women a e unde - ep esen ed in Eu ope a he highes le el o
academia - wi h mino imp o emen s be ween 2015 and 2018 ( om
24.1% o 26.2%) in all ields. (G ozdano i´c and Maes, 2018)
Resea ch Roles: Women cons i u e 39.7% o esea che s in highe
educa ion wo ldwide. (EC, 2021)
Eu opean le el da a shows ha in 2018, women ep esen ed mo e han
40% o academic s a , bu women only occupied abou 25% o he
equi alen ull p o esso ship posi ions.
Women also emain unde ep esen ed in Eu ope among he heads o
highe educa ion ins i u ions (23.6% in 2019), and as boa d membe s
(31.1%) and leade s (24.5%). (EC, 2021)
17
CURRENT REALITY Uni e si y
18
CURRENT REALITY Uni e si y
Towa ds a be e u u e
The sys emic and cul u al di icul ies in pu suing he academic
ca ee o women ha e disad an ages no only o hei own ca ee s
bu also o socie y in gene al. The In o ma ics as a scien i ic
discipline and as a p o ession needs di e si y o ad ance and
lou ish. To make his happen, he uni e si ies ha e an impo an
ole o play.
3. Academic Leade ship Posi ions
Global Dispa i y: Gende pa i y in uni e si y leade ship is low globally,
wi h only 15% o ec o s being women in Eu ope (Casad e al., 2021)
While women a e be e ep esen ed among ull p o esso posi ions in
he Humani ies (35% in 2018), he e is a minimal p esence o women in
he ield o Enginee ing & Technology (17.9% in 2018) o he same
posi ions. (UNESCO, 2022)
4. Con ibu ing Fac o s
Ba ie s: The gende pay gap, s e eo ypes, biases, and in lexible
condi ions a e some o he ba ie s aced by women (EC, 2021; Mo ogna
e al., 2022)
Academic A mosphe e: Challenges include lowe social capi al,
unwelcoming en i onmen s, and disc imina ion. (Casad e al., 2021)
Inclusi e Rec ui men P ocess
Equal Oppo uni ies in E alua ion and
P omo ion
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Fo Rec o s and Depa men Heads
19
Collabo a e wi h di e se channels o ensu e job ad e s each a
b oad audience. U ilize inclusi e language and highligh suppo i e
policies o a ac di e se candida es.
Fo m gende -balanced e alua ion commi ees and conduc
unconscious bias aining. De ine clea , inclusi e e alua ion c i e ia
ha accoun o di e se ca ee pa hs.
Uni e si y
Sys emic Ac ions o Re ain Women
P omo ion o Tenu e and Managemen
RECOMMENDATIONS
20
Fo Rec o s and Depa men Heads
C ea e an inclusi e en i onmen h ough an i-bias aining and
deba es. O e men o ship and p omo e isibili y o women,
alongside in oducing amily- iendly p ac ices (Mo ogna e al.,
2022).
Encou age women's de elopmen and awa eness o gende issues
wi h a suppo i e en i onmen and gende equi y plans. Fund
ini ia i es o p omo ing gende balance.
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Uni e si y
3. S uc u al Ba ie s
Women ace ba ie s such as inadequa e public policies, gende
disc imina ion by employe s, and insu icien echnical skills aining
(Mba ika e al., 2007).
No equal oppo uni ies in case o pa en hood.
4. Gende Employmen -Gap
Gende inequali y in public sec o employmen , including enume a ion
and gende disc imina ion (Johns on, 2019).
5. Limi ed Budge o Gende Balance Ini ia i es
Challenges in implemen ing e ec i e measu es due o es ic ed budge
alloca ions o p omo ing gende balance in In o ma ics.
27
CURRENT REALITY Public
Adminis a ion
Towa ds a be e u u e
The si ua ion e lec s a complex in e ac ion o ac o s like digi al
li e acy, wo k o ce pa icipa ion, gende pay gaps, and unde -
ep esen a ion in decision-making and leade ship oles.
A comp ehensi e app oach is equi ed, including digi al li e acy
suppo , policy in e en ions o add ess gende disc imina ion, and
e o s o enhance women's echnical skills and ep esen a ion in
In o ma ics oles.
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28
Legisla ion and Policy Changes
Iden i y gaps in legisla ion o suppo a gende -balanced
ecosys em in In o ma ics.
Mains eam ini ia i es in legisla ion and policy a ec ing women
and gende equali y.
Implemen gende -based ins umen s in HR policies o equal
oppo uni ies.
Elabo a e social s anda dized suppo i e sys em o pa en al ca e
policy.
S eng hen he Gende Impac Assessmen wi h e ec i e
ins umen s.
Launch Na ional and Eu opean-Wide awa eness campaigns o
dispelling s e eo ypes and p omo ing inclusi i y.
RECOMMENDATIONS Public
Adminis a ion
29
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Skill De elopmen and Empowe men
Equip gi ls and women o he ansi ion om In o ma ics lea ning o
ea ning.
Raise compe encies by boos ing skills, pa icula ly in In o ma ics,
h ough aining p og ams and p o essional de elopmen .
Emphasize con inuous up-skilling in apidly changing echnologies,
especially in unde ep esen ed oles.
Financial Suppo and Moni o ing
Ensu e a gende -balanced s a e budge o suppo ini ia i es o
gende equali y in In o ma ics.
Regula ly moni o and e alua e gende balance imp o emen s,
h ough in elligen solu ions.
Gua an ee a ge ed unds and g an s o suppo women-led ech
p ojec s, encou aging emale ini ia i es in he ech sec o .
RECOMMENDATIONS Public
Adminis a ion
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30
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RECOMMENDATIONS Public
Adminis a ion
P omo ing Inclusion and Ca ee Pa hs
Implemen ep esen a i es o e ine gende imbalance in leade ship
and decision-making oles.
P omo e gende -balanced In o ma ics wo k o ce in he job ma ke .
Conduc an i-bias aining o decision-make s o educe gende
biases and s e eo ypes.
Imp o e communica ion policies and ools o inclusion and ca ee
pa hs o women in In o ma ics.
O e come ins i u ional cul u al ba ie s hinde ing he inclusion and
ad ancemen o women.
Public-P i a e Pa ne ships and P og ams
De elop specialized p og ams o ad ancing women’s engagemen
in inno a ion and echnology h ough public-p i a e pa ne ships.
Es ablish pla o ms and ini ia i es ha connec women and gi ls
wi h inspi ing ole models and men o s in he ech indus y.
REFERENCES
31
Fe ei a, Edua da, & Sil a, Ma ia J. (2016). Po uguese esea ch on Gende and ICT: The place o educa ion.
P oceedings o he 2016 In e na ional Symposium on Compu e s in Educa ion (SIIE 2016), 1–6.
h ps://dx.doi.o g/10.1109/SIIE.2016.7751827
Figue oa-Domecq, C is ina, Palomo, Jesús, Flecha-Ba io, Ma ia D., & Sego ia-Pe ez, Monica (2020). Technology
double gende gap in ou ism business leade ship. In o ma ion Technology
& Tou ism, 22(1), 75–106. h ps://dx.doi.o g/10.1007/s40558-020-00168-0
Johns on, Ka en (2019). Women in public policy and public adminis a ion?. Public Money & Managemen , 39(3),
155–165. h ps://dx.doi.o g/10.1080/09540962.2018.1534421
Mba ika, Vic o W., Pay on, Fay C., K asny, Lyne e, & Amadi, A ieno. (2007). IT Educa ion and Wo k o ce
Pa icipa ion: A New E a o Women in Kenya?. The In o ma ion Socie y, 23(1), 1–18.
h ps://dx.doi.o g/10.1080/01972240601057213
Saman a, Sasmi a (2022). Impac o Digi alisa ion on E iciency and E ec i eness o Women - A Case S udy.
In e na ional Jou nal o Finance, En ep eneu ship & Sus ainabili y, 2(1), 92–98.
Ti ado-Mo ue a, Ramon, Aguaded-Gómez, Jose I., & He nando-Gómez, Ángel (2018). The socio-demog aphic di ide
in In e ne usage mode a ed by digi al li e acy suppo . Technology in Socie y, 55, 47–55.
h ps://dx.doi.o g/10.1016/j. echsoc.2018.06.001
PRIVATE SECTOR
32
PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
Image gene a ed by DALL·E, OpenAI's image gene a ion model
PRIVATE SECTOR
High Le el Policy o S akeholde s
GENDER BALANCE IN INFORMATICS
Vision
A balanced In o ma ics
wo k o ce
Inclusion
Ou ision is o achie e a ans o ma i e shi
owa ds a balanced In o ma ics wo k o ce in he
p i a e sec o . Ou ision is o c ea e a wo k
en i onmen ha excels in compe i i eness and
e iciency, while also os e ing c ea i i y, well-being,
and lexibili y. We aim o es ablish a landscape whe e
di e si y in In o ma ics is no jus welcomed bu
celeb a ed, leading o a mo e holis ic and inclusi e
indus ial p ac ice in he ield.
Ou mission e ol es a ound wo undamen al
pilla s: 1) P omo ion o Inclusion and Ca ee Pa hs,
and 2) Imp o ing he Wo k En i onmen .
Fi s o all, we a e commi ed o ele a ing he
isibili y o ole models in In o ma ics, celeb a ing
he achie emen s o women in he ield. Ou goal is
o cul i a e a suppo i e, c ea i e and welcoming
wo k en i onmen ha a ac s and e ains di e se
alen .
Besides, we s i e o implemen educa ional
ini ia i es ha add ess and educe gende bias,
ocusing on socie al and ins i u ional pa ia chy and
psychological biases a ec ing gende pe cep ions.
Addi ionally, we a e dedica ed o suppo ing amily-
iendly p ac ices, including lexible home o ice and
emo e wo k op ions, and accommoda ing p ima y
childca e esponsibili ies.
Th ough hese e o s, we aim o suppo gende
equi y, educe biases, and c ea e a wo k
en i onmen ha uly embodies inclusi i y and
di e si y in he p i a e sec o o In o ma ics.
Vision
Mission
33
VISION & MISSION P i a e
Sec o
Image gene a ed by DALL·E, OpenAI's image gene a ion model
1. Gene al O e iew
Gap in Indus y: Despi e p og ess in women's igh s and wo kplace
equi y, he ICT indus y s ill aces a signi ican gap in ac ual gende
equi y.
Unbalanced con ex : The ICT wo k o ce is no ep esen a i e o ou
gene al popula ion, and a mo e di e se wo k o ce can help o e come he
sho age o quali ied ICT people.
2. Challenges o Women in ICT
Ba ie s o equi y: Women a e a mino i y in he ICT indus y and ace
challenges like inequali y o oppo uni ies and disc imina ion. These
issues impac bo h p oduc de elopmen and women's p o essional
aspi a ions in ICT (Albusays e al., 2021; Glass e al., 2013; Singh e al.,
2013).
3. E o s o Gende Balance
Road o success: Va ious ini ia i es ha e been unde aken ac oss
di e en ields o balance gende ep esen a ion in ICT. Howe e ,
p og ess emains slow (Jacche i e al., 2020; Uni ed Na ions, 2021).
34
CURRENT REALITY P i a e
Sec o
Image gene a ed by DALL·E, OpenAI's image gene a ion model
4. The Gende Equali y Pa adox
Rele ance o changes: ICT indus y aces a gende imbalance e en in
coun ies known o gende equali y.
Engine o change: Pe sis ing gende s e eo ypes and no ms a e iden i ied
as majo con ibu ing ac o s (B eda e al., 2020).
5. D op-ou Ra es and Job Sa is ac ion
Losses in alen : High d op-ou a es among women in ICT, wi h 50%
lea ing he indus y wi hin 12 yea s, despi e high job sa is ac ion a es
(Glass e al., 2013; Hewle e al., 2019).
6. Iden i ying and Add essing Ba ie s
Ge ing o know he challenges: Recogni ion o ba ie s women ace in
ICT and he absence o speci ic bes p ac ices o elimina e hese ba ie s
(Pa ón-Rome o e al., 2023).
Desi e o new solu ions: Need o well- ounded and e ec i e p oposals
o add ess hese challenges.
7. Impac on he ICT Indus y
Impo ance o women in ICT: The lack o women and he challenges hey
ace in ICT ha e signi ican nega i e impac s on he indus y.
35
CURRENT REALITY P i a e
Sec o
Towa ds a be e u u e
Add essing hese challenges is essen ial o e o ming he indus y
and inc easing women's pa icipa ion, mo i a ion, expec a ions
and con inui y in ICT.
De ini ion o Role Models:
S a wi h he basic unde s anding: A ole model, as de ined
by he Camb idge Dic iona y, is "an indi idual admi ed o
hei beha io , which o he s aspi e o emula e."
Impo ance o E hical Leade s:
Emphasize he alue o leade ship: "I 's c ucial o ha e
leade s, pa icula ly e hical ones", as highligh ed by B own
and T e iño (2013). They signi ican ly in luence bo h sel -
pe cep ion and how o he s iew us.
Role o Adul Role Models Ac oss Li espan:
Discuss li elong impac and men o ship: Adul ole models
play a pi o al ole h oughou li e, including pos -
e i emen . As Whi bou ne (2010) no es, " ul illmen is
a ainable a any age, allowing ole models o impa
wisdom con inually".
Celeb a ing Female Con ibu ions:
Highligh he need o ecognizing achie emen s:
Acknowledging emale con ibu ions is i al, especially
conside ing D ehe and Ash’s (1990) indings ha male
employees o en ecei e mo e ecogni ion. Celeb a ing
women as ole models is a s ep owa ds empowe men .
Digi al S o y elling as a Tool:
Sugges p ac ical me hods: Digi al s o y elling is an
e ec i e me hod o hono ole models. This can include
gene al in og aphics abou emale con ibu ions in a
company o indi idual s o ies, ei he as anonymized
pe sonas o iden i ied indi iduals.
Example o Role Model P omo ion:
P o ide a conc e e example: Conside , o ins ance, a 'Role
Model Flye ' o a wo king g oup leade in EUGAIN (see
Figu e B.). This lye could highligh bo h ca ee
achie emen s and pe sonal s eng hs, se ing as an
inspi a ion o o he s.
36
Figu e B.
To P omo e Inclusion and Ca ee Pa hs
RECOMMENDATIONS
Role Models
P i a e
Sec o
In his deli e able we p esen ed se s o policy ecommenda ions o he ou
a ge g oups o Schools, Uni e si ies, Public Adminis a ion and P i a e
Sec o . We hope you ind he guidance applicable and s aigh - o wa d and
a e aking away new ideas.
Fu he epo ing on he esul s o ou s udies is a ailable on ou websi e
h ps://eugain.eu/ esul s/.
Fo he Schools, we ad oca e o (1) in na ional and egional school
adminis a ion o c ea e legisla ion e o ms and na ion-wide In o ma ics
cu icula, (2) on he school p incipals le el o os e inclusi e eache aining
and pa en al awa eness campaigns, (3) and o each eache o inspi e wi h
ole models and o emphasize social impac h ough p ojec s.
Fo he Uni e si ies, we call o (1) ec o s and depa men heads o es ablish
inclusi e ec ui men p ocesses and equal assessmen in e alua ion and
p omo ion, and (2) o uni e si y p o esso s o di e si y he syllabi and
p ojec s on gende equi y.
Fo Public Adminis a ion, we s i e o (1) legisla i e and policy changes
including gende mains eaming and campaigns o dispel s e eo yping, (2)
skill de elopmen and empowe men o aise compe encies, (3) public-
p i a e pa ne ships and p og ammes, (4) inancial suppo and moni o ing,
and (5) p omo ing inclusion and ca ee pa hs.
Fo he P i a e Sec o , we ecommend o imp o e he wo k en i onmen by
(1) sel de elopmen in e ms o uple eling skills and ne wo k, (2) men o ing
ac oss ca ee s ages and phases, (3) amily suppo and engagemen and
collabo a ion, and he inclusion and ca ee pa hs by (5) ole models, (6)
inclusi e job ads, (7) empo a y explici a ge s, and (8) ma u i y models.
Finally, we wish o hank you, he eade , o ca ing abou his impo an opic
o gende equi y in In o ma ics (and in gene al) and applaud you on you way
o wa d o aking ac ion.
Please each ou and le us know how we can suppo you in you
con ibu ions. www.eugain.eu
43
CONCLUSION
This publica ion is based upon wo k om COST Ac ion
EUGAIN, CA19122, suppo ed by COST (Eu opean
Coope a ion in Science and Technology).
COST (Eu opean Coope a ion in Science and
Technology) is a unding agency o esea ch and
inno a ion ne wo ks. Ou Ac ions help connec
esea ch ini ia i es ac oss Eu ope and enable
scien is s o g ow hei ideas by sha ing hem wi h
hei pee s. This boos s hei esea ch, ca ee and
inno a ion.
COST ACTION CA19122
Eu opean Ne wo k Fo
Gende Balance in
In o ma ics
Image gene a ed by DALL·E, OpenAI's image gene a ion model
h ps://cos .eu/
h ps://eugain.eu/
