Publish date: 2023/04/26 | Expire date: 2023/05/27 | Author: Monika Ferk Ovčjak
Information and communication technologies are among the most dynamic economic sectors in the EU and the world. Despite this, the lack of personnel in the ICT sector is still a widely recognized challenge today. The lack of women in ICT professions can also be detected in Slovenia. The European Commission therefore warns and urges member states to take an active approach to reducing this difference, as no profession should choose gender or vice versa.
The University of Maribor strives for gender equality, and especially encourages girls to enroll in study programmes that are "atypically female". Activities in this area are reflected in the annual increase in enrollment of female students in ICT study programmes. We are convinced that women can be successful in the digital world and ICT professions at least as much as men, and we wish that many more of them would choose this career path in the future.
What did two successful university teachers from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Scienceof the University of Maribor say about the situation of girls in ICT?
Asst. Prof. Dr. Lili Nemec Zlatolas
Asst. prof. dr. Lili Nemec Zlatolas is an assistant professor and researcher in the field of informatics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of the University of Maribor. Her research focuses on studying the privacy and security of users when using ICT. She is also a founding member of the group Ladies in informatics, which is committed to bringing together female scientists with related research interests and reducing the gender gap in STEM fields. As an expert, she actively works in several international projects. She also participated in the organization of nine international conferences, which were organized across Slovenia. She is the recipient of the title Congress Ambassador of Slovenia 2021.
»The International Girls in ICT Day is an excellent opportunity to encourage girls to focus on the field of ICT, as there is a huge shortage of personnel in this field. The advantage of employment in the field of ICT usually includes a good balance between work and free time, and often allows for good pay, which is often a motivator for choosing a career path. Research shows that diverse work teams solve problems more easily and better, and the productivity of such teams is also higher. In Slovenia, approximately 18 percent of female students are enrolled in ICT studies, and here we are at the European average, but there are still many untapped opportunities to increase the enrollment of girls in ICT studies. It is important to encourage entry into the field of ICT among young people already in elementary school and remove stereotypical thinking about these professions. Girls who show an interest in technical sciences should not be hindered from joining the field of ICT, but should be encouraged to do so. Sometimes just one person who acts as a role model or motivator is enough to direct/enthuse someone about the ICT field. An example of good practice for the inclusion of girls in ICT is also the organization of ICT events just for them (e.g. programming for girls, etc.). With various mechanisms, we will more easily reduce the shortage of personnel and increase the digital skills of society.«
Asst. Prof. Dr. Aida Kamišalić Latifić
Asst. prof. dr. Aida Kamišalić Latifić is an assistant professor and researcher at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of the University of Maribor. Her research areas include data technologies, big data, blockchain technology and medical informatics with a focus on modeling medical procedures for chronic patients and developing machine learning technologies to extract and represent clinical procedures from data to support decision making in medical processes. She is one of the founders of the EduCTX initiative, which received the 2019 eAward for the best project in the field of computing and informatics. In January 2020, she was awarded the title of Engineer of the Year 2019, and she is currently the State Secretary at the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
»My decision to pursue an engineering career was probably quite different from most girls. After completing hight school, I had to make a decision about further studies. Without much idealization, I then made a pragmatic decision to study computer science and informatics at UM Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. I was guided by the fact that the company needs personnel from this field and that I will have no problems finding a job after completing my studies. At the same time, I realized that with the knowledge and development of modern information technologies, I can improve people's lives, promote the development of society and contribute to its progress. This was key in my decision to study computer science and informatics.
It has been considered for many years that there is a shortage of ICT personnel in our society. I am convinced that every girl in ICT can find the field of activity that is most suitable and interesting for her. Unfortunately, we still underutilize the potential among girls. I often emphasize something that is not negligible, namely that with such professions we can contribute and enable the development of modern products and services in well-paid jobs. Today, I often talk about the use of technology and engineering knowledge for the benefit of society. It is important that women actively co-shape and develop the society in which we live. We must not be mere passive observers of social changes, but unfortunately in society we still deal with the stereotypical division into female and male professions. It is time that we outgrow such divisions and use all the potential that we need for the development of modern society.«
This post was prepared together with the University of maribor.
