Background
Recent statistical data confirms a persisting high gender imbalance in ICT professions with women accounting for less than 20% of computer systems designers, analysts and programmers in the EU27. This means
women miss important employment opportunities in a sector that is driving European economic growth and greatly depends on skilled workers and on consumers who take up technological innovation. Since action in this area has been rather piecemeal through individual studies, projects or initiatives at a national, European or an international level, there is a need for a comprehensive European resource centre for gender mainstreaming in VET for the ICT sector. The gender-IT project aims to address this by building a sustainable multistakeholder network at a European level focusing on this topic.
Objectives
To this end the gender-IT maps, analyses and relays the relevant information, focusing on statistics, policies and projects among the 30 countries participating in the Lifelong Learning Programme, and beyond. The project partners endeavour to identify both gaps in available knowledge and good practices through benchmarking. A peer review service for VET providers will be developed and piloted so as to identify trends and their impacts on VET practice. Special emphasis lies on awareness raising, network building, liaison and exploitation to achieve high visibility, engage stakeholders, create synergies and achieve sustainability. Key outputs include a research database, a benchmarking report, a peer review handbook, a report on trends and impacts, e-newsletters, press releases, promotional events and a sustainability plan for the network itself.
Methodology
In order to create a sustainable multistakeholder network on gender-mainstreaming in VET for the ICT sector, the gender-IT consortium develops a series of activities that include:
- initial knowledge pooling and research to collect information on the issue at hand
- the development of a benchmarking system and the successive identification of good practices
- the development of a peer review system
- the identification of trends in gender-mainstreaming for VET in the ICT sector and their impacts on VET practice, building on outcomes
- targeted dissemination and exploitation activities
For more information on the project activities and its outputs please go to the sections workplan and outputs. Information on the consortium is available at the section partners.
Key data
AGREEMENT n° 142701-LLP-1-2008-1-CY-LEONARDO-LNW
Project Leader:
IMCS INTERCOLLEGE LTD, CYPRUS
Partners:
Duration: 01.12.2008 – 31.11.2010
Total Budget: 476,733.00 EUR EU
Grant: 357,199.00 EUR