Building a more inclusive and diverse digital Europe
On February 6th and 7th, we held our official kick-off event for WIDCON (WiD), at the offices of European Vocational Training Association – EVTA in Brussels. Marking the beginning of a groundbreaking initiative aimed at creating lasting change in the digital landscape. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for all involved to align our visions, collaborate on immediate actions, and set the stage for the impact we hope to achieve over the coming months and years.
WIDCON is a transformative initiative designed to amplify the impact of investments made through the DIGITAL programme. Its goal is to tackle the shortage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) specialists, while simultaneously building a more inclusive and diverse digital Europe. Central to WIDCON is the Women in Digital Declaration, which seeks to leverage the contributions of women in driving progress and innovation in the digital economy.
The WIDCON team takes a pipeline approach to this issue, analysing the entire professional journey of women in digital. Starting from primary education, all the way through to leadership roles in the digital sector, we aim to uncover and address the unique obstacles women face at different stages of their careers. By doing so, we hope to create actionable solutions that help retain and support women as they advance through the digital landscape.
Our team
The team behind the WIDCON consortium are leaders in the Digital Industry and Advanced Digital Skills (ADS) ecosystem and provide a strong continuity and coherence with leading actions in this field. With academic and industry experts from BluSpecs, EIT Digital, the European Vocational Training Association, IDC, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, BVTA, Vilnius Tech, and AIOTI. Our collective expertise and vision are key drivers behind the success of this initiative, and we’re excited to work together to create a more equitable digital future.
Our objectives
As the project moves forward, we’ve outlined several key objectives that will guide our work and measure our success:
- Define sustainable data models: We will create a data model and collection methods to track progress along the Women in Digital pipeline.
- Develop a Women in Digital Index: A comprehensive, replicable index will measure progress and identify best practices across the EU and internationally.
- Establish a forum: A space where experts, stakeholders, and communities can discuss challenges and solutions in advancing gender equality in the digital sector.
- Engage stakeholders: Ensuring that the Women in Digital Forum remains active and sustainable, with ongoing support from a wide range of stakeholders.
- Create a Best Practices library: We will build an accessible library of initiatives, strategies, and data from MS initiatives, industry, education, and third-sector efforts.
- Provide regular analysis: Delivering actionable reports with recommendations for policy and initiatives to improve women’s representation in ICT.
Key expected outcomes
Through our efforts, we expect to achieve several significant outcomes that will drive long-term change:
Women in Digital Index and Scoreboard: A systematic review of national and regional strategies will allow us to create a comprehensive, up-to-date index to track the progress of women in ICT.
Establishment of the Women in Digital Forum: This forum will be an ongoing platform for dialogue, sharing best practices, and promoting successful initiatives, ensuring the conversation continues beyond the project’s end.
Impactful report: A report identifying the key challenges women face when entering or advancing in ICT will help highlight practical solutions, comparing the EU with non-member states that have seen greater success in female participation in ICT.
Roadmap for success
Following a successful start, our focus now shifts to the next crucial steps in maintaining the momentum of the WIDCON project. Firstly, we aim to categorise data collection methods to establish clear and consistent protocols that will guide our research. Secondly, we will clarify the scope of ‘digital’ occupations to ensure we accurately define the range of professions that fall under this umbrella, helping us to refine our focus.
Additionally, we plan to strengthen our social media presence, increasing the initiative’s visibility and engaging a broader audience through targeted campaigns. Lastly, we will identify key non-member states for comparative analysis, enabling us to explore how countries outside the EU support women in the digital sector. We are excited to continue this journey, committed to ensuring women’s voices, contributions, and leadership are central to the future of the digital economy.
We are thrilled to embark on this journey and are eager to drive forward the changes needed to ensure that women’s voices, contributions, and leadership are an integral part of the digital economy.