Breaking Barriers: Supported by E2E, Women Redefining the IT Landscape Despite Gender Disparities
In the dynamic landscape of the IT industry, prevailing stereotypes have long perpetuated the perception that it’s predominantly a male domain, though historical evidence contradicts this assumption. Aida King Lovelace, recognised today as the first programmer, was a woman. Despite Lovelace’s pioneering contributions, contemporary research from Trust Radius reveals a stark gender imbalance in IT engineering, with men constituting a substantial 80 per cent of the workforce. In this field, only one woman is found for every five male professionals, underscoring a significant gender disparity.
The IT sector today continues to grapple with substantial gender imbalances and entrenched stereotypes against women. These stereotypes often steer women away from pursuing careers in IT, compelling them to explore other professions, mostly in the lower-paid domain of care and teaching. However, there’s an encouraging surge in women expressing interest in both technical and non-technical roles within the IT industry, signalling a positive labour market shift.
The ongoing Swiss supported “Education to Employment” (E2E) project is currently in its fourth cycle of work-based learning (WBL) programmes, supporting young individuals seeking employment. Notably, this cycle witnesses a growing number of IT companies actively participating in the WBL programme by organising training courses for new employees.
Niš-based IT company Nistruct is one such firm that’s actively incorporating the E2E project into its capacity expansion initiative. In collaboration with the career counsellors of the Job Info Centre Niš, within the framework of the ENECA organisation, an E2E local partner, Nistruct has extended opportunities for four young women to undergo training for four different IT occupations and subsequently join its IT team.
E2E adopts a gender-sensitive approach in conducting fundamental activities, such as career guidance and counselling, and WBL programmes. Through diverse work modalities, young individuals are supported in making career decisions that are aligned with their aspirations and characteristics, aiming to diminish the enduring influence of gender stereotypes in occupations.
HR Manager Jovana Pavlović sheds light on the success of this approach, emphasising the ambition of the young women and the alignment of their expectations with what the company could provide. The company’s efforts to offer exceptional mentors, involve the trainees in internal projects and facilitate knowledge transfer have left the trainees highly satisfied with the organisation.
After completing the WBL training, all four young women are now gainfully employed at Nistruct, contributing to roles ranging from junior iOS developer to junior QA tester. Reflecting on her WBL training for Junior IOS developer, Tamara Milovanović underscores the positive impact it had on her professional and personal development, emphasising the practical application of theoretical knowledge gained during formal education.
Marija Gajić stresses the importance of practical experience during her training for Junior Android developer, noting her successful adaptation to the work environment and the acquiring of valuable work experience. Nina Ćirić considers direct involvement in projects as the most valuable experience during her training for Junior Java developer, providing her with the opportunity to take on responsibilities and witness the tangible impact of her contributions.
The women’s new colleagues have noted that the successful integration of all four trainees into the team has added a vibrant energy to the company culture. Encouragingly, these young women report feeling equal to their male counterparts, signalling a shift in awareness regarding women in programming. The testimonies affirm that there are no discernible differences, stressing the evolving perception that programming is a profession like any other. Pavlović concludes that the most crucial aspect is to be knowledgeable, continually learning and embracing the dynamic nature of work, echoing the sentiment that defines the IT world itself.
