Human capital in ICT (Information and Communication Technology) is a key driver of digital innovation and a crucial factor in the competitiveness of modern societies. Given this, it is striking that only 1 in 5 people employed in the ICT sector are women. The HER TECH project has launched to foster a more gender-inclusive ICT landscape.
Our consortium has advanced to the first research phase, which focuses on understanding what helps—and hinders—girls and women in choosing ICT studies and careers. We are currently collecting data on initiatives and programs from the past 10 years that have aimed to create a more gender-balanced ICT sector across Europe. By analysing these efforts, we aim to learn from past interventions and identify the most successful practices.
HER TECH partners in Croatia, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Italy, Belgium, and Germany are following a common methodology to ensure the comparability of results. The South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (XAMK) is coordinating this research phase. The process includes three components: a) desk research; b) expert and policymaker interviews, and c) an online survey open to anyone interested in gender equality efforts in the ICT field. In total, our exploration covers 10 countries.
The underrepresentation of women in ICT is a complex issue, influenced by social stereotypes, societal and institutional biases, education systems, and other structural factors. To make this topic more approachable, we are organizing the research around three distinct target groups:
- Adolescent girls (aged 5–16)
- Women in higher education and vocational training (aged 17–29)
- ICT professionals
With these target groups in mind, we will analyse age-specific motivations and barriers. The goal is to help design more tailored and effective solutions in the upcoming phases of the project.
Our research findings will be published in early 2026 with two outputs:
- Transnational Research Report – compiling 10 national reports
- Handbook of Best Practices – focused on motivating girls and women to pursue ICT careers
Targeted at anyone committed to promoting gender balance, the Handbook of Best Practices will offer a practical foundation for designing impactful initiatives that support gender equality in ICT education and employment.
Make Your Voice Heard!
Have you participated in or organized “Girls/Women in Tech” initiatives or programmes? We want to hear from you! Please get in touch via the email below and share your experiences.
Eero Tiainen
RDI Specialist, HER TECH Project
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (XAMK)
eero.tiainen@xamk.fi
