Measures to get more women involved in IT sector called for

A report by the gender-IT project, an EU co-funded organisation which aims to promote gender equality in IT, seeks to establish how to encourage more girls and women to be involved in the ICT sector.

Through a variety of research avenues, including focus groups, peer review visits to training institutions and a database of relevant European policies and networks, the report identifies several key areas for policy-makers to be aware of when encouraging gender equality in ICT education and training.

These are split in to two main groups - measures to inspire girls and women to take an interest in IT training and measures to support them to do this.

Some of the recommendations in the first category include improving career guidance and awareness of IT careers and opportunities and establishing outreach programmes, including female role models, to encourage all sections of society to explore IT training.

Meanwhile, to support women in IT education, it is suggested that infrastructures are put in place that allow more women to access IT training, such as funding for free creches.

The report follows the recent announcement that A-level students sitting the computing course was five per lower this year compared to 2007.

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