More women into IT in the Czech Republic
Prague, Czech Republic, May 10
It’s hard to find women in the IT sector in the Czech Republic so IBM have decided to break with the status quo and bring "Women into IT". In partnership with the Association for Progressive Communications Women’s Programme (APC WNSP) IBM aims to attract more women into the information technology field through a new project focused at high school girls and women. "Women into IT" features gender and IT awareness sessions, training, as well as public round table discussions, in the cities of Prague and Brno.
"The fact that the percentage of women at IBM Czech Republic is at half the rate of the women at IBM globally, speaks for itself," says Petr Draxler, Country Human Resources Leader in the Czech Republic & South East Area. “IBM CR decided to support the project "Women into IT" as part of our local strategy in the area of gender diversity. We aim to attract talented women for work in IT and to show what career prospects this line of business offers.”
The major drive of the initiative “Women into IT” is encouraging more women to get interested in information and computer technology as well as to examine the structural reasons for the existing gender gap in IT in the Czech Republic. The long-term experience and research of APC WNSP has shown that encouragement from other women is an important factor in entering the IT field. Many women and girls remain distant from IT and frequently do not consider it as a field where they might excel. Gender roles and stereotypes have evolved into labor segregation and societal acceptance that IT is considered men’s domain. The APC WNSP and IBM staff serve as trainers and role models to prove to women and girls that they can take IT into their own hands, including making a career in the IT industry, if they want.
“At the very beginning of the project we asked women working at various positions at IBM Prague and Brno to join us for a discussion about women in the IT sector. We wanted to know what their stories are like and how it feels to work in the IT for women.”, says Lenka Simerska, the APC WNSP "Women into IT" project leader. Now 20 women IT professionals, the majority high-level technical specialists, come to seminars to share with and support women and girls. “Women who agreed to cooperate with the project really enjoy coming to the seminars to talk about their work experience. Its always a lively discussion that includes personal sharing too. In such an environment women can feel safe to share challenges and difficulties and ask questions.”
Simerska emphasizes, "Mutual support among women is key for advancement in areas which are traditionally male dominated. Men grow and achieve professional goals through informal networks." She explains that women’s networking along professional lines is less common, and complicated by time limitations and family roles.
The project is therefore geared towards women and girls who have the potential for IT but lack information and support. The APC WNSP invites women who would like to switch their career lines or who plan to come back from their maternity leave (which in the Czech Republic can last up to 4 years) to meet with women IT professionals and learn about their stories. The sessions include computer and communication skills training, and break down the belief that the IT sector is only for highly technically educated people.
“Women need to understand that IT is a very dynamic and fast developing area for which the most important precondition is to be willing to learn. One doesn’t have to hold a university diploma of computer science or have years of practice in the field to succeed with technology.” insists Simerska. Women are usually surprised that IT jobs can also be family-friendly because work from home is possible. Some companies, including IBM Czech Republic, are also starting to open job-share arrangements and opportunities for women to keep in touch with work via smaller projects while on maternity leave. In fact, the IT sector offers better work conditions for women in terms of equal opportunities and work-life balance than other areas of business. This is confirmed by The Annual Award for the Best Company with Gender Equality organized by the Czech non-profit organization Gender Studies, o.p.s. “The IT companies have been winning and in the top positions of the Award since the opening of the Award in 2004.” says Linda Sokacova, Award Manager.
Increasingly, corporations and projects supported by European Union funding have rediscovered the potential of women for IT. Among other benefits, it has been documented that by "investing" in a female labor force, "brain drain" can be prevented. Women tend to be more stable in employment and tend to find jobs locally. Therefore active recruitment of women to skilled ICT jobs can be a strategy to keep expertise within the region. Many ICT employers believe that it is beneficial for them to learn about the advantages of gender-balanced workforces. There is a new emphasis on creating work environments that are free of gender stereotypes and discrimination because such environments are attractive to women.
“IBM globally has been very strong in offering equal opportunities to women even in the ‘typically male’ professions.” says Blanka Litosova, Human resources Specialist of IBM. “Professional growth and career building is traditionally perceived as opposite to family life with children. We are creating working conditions where these [roles] can be well-combined. Aside from our programs that allow parents to harmonize work and family, such as the Flexible Office Program or Maternity Leave and Return Program, health plan, or Sickness Leave Programme, we also support a kindergarten where children of our employees can enjoy a special fee."
One of the reasons why there are low numbers of women in the IT is that girls are not taking IT related studies at the universities. Petr Draxler comments: "In general, any talents are important for the IT industry, however women’s representation in IT does not reflect that women are approximately 50% of the entire population. Let’s take an example: the number of female graduates from IT departments at local technical universities falls below 10%. If local IT industry disregards this fact, it simply loses a significant portion of talented people.”
The "Women into IT" project therefore also focuses on girls 15 and above, probing the causes behind their low interest in IT. Through the project, high-school girls have a chance to meet women already working in IT and learn about the IT world from the inside. During the sessions APC WNSP trainers together with the women who act as role models break stereotypes and discuss daily IT use, challenges, and future career plans with the students. Marketa Kristova, the APC WNSP trainer for girls, observes: “Girls are convinced, as well as society in general, that boys are more logical and rational and therefore more talented for technical subjects. Girls are less self-confident and consider themselves technically ungifted. Low numbers of the women in technical fields feed the myth of men’s technical dominance and help to maintain the status quo."
Jolana Barousova, Human resources Specialist of the IBM Integrated Delivery Center in Brno thinks that there is a great potential in cooperating with schools. “Schools are very interested in linking with us here in Brno. Many teachers are keen to learn about the practical side of IT and not to teach according to a rigid curriculum that is not useful to graduates later. I am convinced that cooperation should be maintained from both sides. The project ‘Women into IT’ is a great opportunity to meet with students as well, and for them to see the company life."
As part of the sessions women and girls have the opportunity to connect with the APC WNSP network and learn about the ways women can use technology for their own advancement. They learn about the privacy and security of their online communication and different internet campaigns for women’s rights. Women into IT empowers women and girls to take control of technology for their own benefit, in their careers and as women.
Author: Lenka Simerska
Contact: lenka@apcwomen.org
Source: APC WNSP
Date: 10.5.07
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Source: APC WNSP
