A new online service to encourage the recruitment and career
progression of women in IT has been launched with backing from the
BCS and the Government, writes John Kavanagh.
Equalitec, partly funded by the Department of Trade & Industry,
has separate sections for individuals, employers and higher
education establishments. Its overall aim is to "address the gender
imbalance in the workforce" - in the UK less than 20% of IT staff
are women.
"The site will contain global best practice examples of the
recruitment, retention and progression of women in IT, electronics
and communications careers and degree courses through case studies
and articles," says Equalitec project manager Marina Larios.
An online mentoring resource centre has already gone live, offering
information and advice on setting up in-house schemes.
There will be an online database of female undergraduates requiring
placements and companies offering placements across Europe. Online
debates will be organised on topical themes. "This is a dynamic
site, with new features and resources being added all the time,"
says Larios.
BCS support for Equalitec follows the formation of a BCS group for
women in IT with similar aims to those of the new service. The
group has found a ready audience, with 500 women getting involved
in online discussions. Women into Computing, a group affiliated to
the BCS, is also supporting Equalitec.
Last month, BCS chief executive David Clarke highlighted the
relatively small numbers of women entering careers in IT and warned
that the UK will face severe IT skills shortages unless new
education initiatives are set up and led by industry. Some of
Equalitec's work responds to these points.
Other organisations supporting Equalitec include E-Skills UK, BT,
IT services groups Logica and Newell & Budge, the Institute for
the Management of Information Systems, and the Institution of
Electrical Engineers.
Equalitec is being run by Portia, an organisation set up in 1998 to
represent women, groups and institutions concerned with
electronics, engineering, technology and science. Portia says this
will ensure that Equalitec will express women's perspectives on the
whole field.
www.equalitec.com/www.portiaweb.org.uk/www.bcs.org/bcswomen