European Code of Best Practices for Women in ICT

European and International stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology sector have joined together to produce a European Code of Best Practices in ICT. The group recognises that not only is the number of young people studying and choosing careers in ICT is decreasing, but a skills gap is predicted and women are under-represented in at all levels of ICT. Beginning by attracting more women into ICT jobs addresses the skills gap problem while also contributes to realising equal opportunities goals and empowering women by enhancing their capacity to participate fully in the information society and shape its development.
National and corporate initiatives are currently being developed by ICT stakeholders to ensure greater participation of women in all areas of the sector. Signatory European and International stakeholders propose a Code of Best Practices for Women in ICT that reflects recent positive developments and seeks to be a rallying point for other stakeholders wishing to support and promote the greater participation of women in the sector. The Code aims not only to ensure that more women choose careers in the sector but also that they are encouraged and supported to remain and progress in their chosen area of work. This code will be subject to national and international practices. The Code covers different areas of practices, namely: Education, Recruitment, Career Development, and Return to work after leave. Signatories will pledge their support for the overall goals of this Code and undertake to ensure that their company’s actions and practices are in line with the Code. Current signatories include Alcatel-Lucent, IMEC, Microsoft, Motorola, Orange, and Promis@Service.
A full copy of the report can be found here:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/itgirls/doc/code.pdf