Data di Pubblicazione:
2019
Citazione:
A Best Practice for Attracting Female Students to Enrol in ICT Studies / Canali, C., Addabbo, T., Moumtzi, V. - In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Gender Research, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy, 11-12 April 2019 / [a cura di] Paoloni, P.; Paoloni, M.; Arduini, S.. - Reading : Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited, 2019. - ISBN 9781912764167. - pp. 121-128
Abstract:
The extremely low rates of females compared to men, enrolled at
Computer Sciences (CS) and Information Systems Universities result not only in a
massive loss of talent for companies and economies but also perpetuate gaps in
gender inequality in the ICT field. To face this, Universities and Research
Organizations are gradually taking initiatives to address such gender imbalance,
trying to intervene and raise the awareness on a complex set of rooted
cultural/societal gender stereotypes, including gender bias and linking ICT with
masculinity that are permeating early school education, STEM teaching practices
and parents’ attitudes. This approach is based on several studies on the current
students that highlight how female bachelor students in CS have lower levels of
self-confidence compared to their male counterparts which can negatively impact
on their plans to continue their studies. Towards this direction, the Horizon 2020
EQUAL-IST (Gender Equality Plans for Information Sciences and Technology
Research Institutions) project supports six Universities across Europe (Italy,
Lithuania, Germany, Ukraine, Finland, Portugal) to design and implement actions
towards gender equality, with a specific focus on the ICT/IST area. The
Universities have settled up several concrete initiatives to attract female students
towards ICT studies. Specifically, this paper presents the best practice
implemented at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, (UniMORE) the
Summer Camp namely Ragazze Digitali (Digital Girls). The summer camp offers to
female students of third and fourth grade of the high schools a first-hand
experience based on a learn-by-doing approach to coding applied to creative and
innovative fields, as well as inspiring female role models from the academia and
the industry. For its scope, nature (free for the girls to participate) and duration
(four entire weeks), the Summer Camp Ragazze Digitali represents a unique
experience not only in Italy but also in Europe and, at the best of our knowledge,
in the world. The paper describes the Summer Camp experience, highlighting the
impacts of this experience on the female students, with particular attention to
changed attitudes and plans for their future studies and careers.
Computer Sciences (CS) and Information Systems Universities result not only in a
massive loss of talent for companies and economies but also perpetuate gaps in
gender inequality in the ICT field. To face this, Universities and Research
Organizations are gradually taking initiatives to address such gender imbalance,
trying to intervene and raise the awareness on a complex set of rooted
cultural/societal gender stereotypes, including gender bias and linking ICT with
masculinity that are permeating early school education, STEM teaching practices
and parents’ attitudes. This approach is based on several studies on the current
students that highlight how female bachelor students in CS have lower levels of
self-confidence compared to their male counterparts which can negatively impact
on their plans to continue their studies. Towards this direction, the Horizon 2020
EQUAL-IST (Gender Equality Plans for Information Sciences and Technology
Research Institutions) project supports six Universities across Europe (Italy,
Lithuania, Germany, Ukraine, Finland, Portugal) to design and implement actions
towards gender equality, with a specific focus on the ICT/IST area. The
Universities have settled up several concrete initiatives to attract female students
towards ICT studies. Specifically, this paper presents the best practice
implemented at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, (UniMORE) the
Summer Camp namely Ragazze Digitali (Digital Girls). The summer camp offers to
female students of third and fourth grade of the high schools a first-hand
experience based on a learn-by-doing approach to coding applied to creative and
innovative fields, as well as inspiring female role models from the academia and
the industry. For its scope, nature (free for the girls to participate) and duration
(four entire weeks), the Summer Camp Ragazze Digitali represents a unique
experience not only in Italy but also in Europe and, at the best of our knowledge,
in the world. The paper describes the Summer Camp experience, highlighting the
impacts of this experience on the female students, with particular attention to
changed attitudes and plans for their future studies and careers.
Tipologia CRIS:
Capitolo/Saggio
Keywords:
gender segregation, ICT summer camp, gender stereotypes, learn-by doing approach
Elenco autori:
Canali, C.; Addabbo, T.; Moumtzi, V.
Link alla scheda completa:
Titolo del libro:
Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Gender Research, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy, 11-12 April 2019