Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Women in Computing in South Africa and othersub-Saharan countries

Vashti Galpin

School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh

ACM-W Ambassador for South Africa

(Thanks to Hlamalani Huhlwane and Kegomoditswe More)

10 June 2008

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Introduction

I my backgroundI an indirect route to becoming a theoretical computer scientist

I status of women in computing in South Africa

I what?

I why?

I how?

I other sub-Saharan countries

I ACM-W ambassador program

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Introduction

I my backgroundI an indirect route to becoming a theoretical computer scientist

I status of women in computing in South AfricaI what?

I why?

I how?

I other sub-Saharan countries

I ACM-W ambassador program

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Introduction

I my backgroundI an indirect route to becoming a theoretical computer scientist

I status of women in computing in South AfricaI what?

I why?

I how?

I other sub-Saharan countries

I ACM-W ambassador program

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Introduction

I my backgroundI an indirect route to becoming a theoretical computer scientist

I status of women in computing in South AfricaI what?

I why?

I how?

I other sub-Saharan countries

I ACM-W ambassador program

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

What is the current situation in South Africa?

I university and technikon data up to 2001 (published by theSouth African Qualifications Authority)

I industry

I limited data

I confusion between high-level ICT involvement and ICT usage

I joint SA-Finnish study from 2006

I very complete assessment of the situation

I statistics from government labour survey

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

What is the current situation in South Africa?

I university and technikon data up to 2001 (published by theSouth African Qualifications Authority)

I industry

I limited data

I confusion between high-level ICT involvement and ICT usage

I joint SA-Finnish study from 2006

I very complete assessment of the situation

I statistics from government labour survey

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

What is the current situation in South Africa?

I university and technikon data up to 2001 (published by theSouth African Qualifications Authority)

I industryI limited data

I confusion between high-level ICT involvement and ICT usage

I joint SA-Finnish study from 2006

I very complete assessment of the situation

I statistics from government labour survey

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

What is the current situation in South Africa?

I university and technikon data up to 2001 (published by theSouth African Qualifications Authority)

I industryI limited data

I confusion between high-level ICT involvement and ICT usage

I joint SA-Finnish study from 2006I very complete assessment of the situation

I statistics from government labour survey

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

University gender data, South Africa 1992-2001

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

University gender and race data, South Africa 1992-2001

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Discipline comparison, South Africa 2001

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Discipline comparison over time, South Africa 1992-2001

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Discipline pipeline, South Africa 2001

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Industry, South Africa 2005

All ICT Systems analyst

Technical sales

ICT engineer

ICT technician

ICT artisan

ICT manager

ICT programmer

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Male vs Female ICT Occupations

FM

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Why do we have this situation?

I perceptions of computer science

I clerical, use of application software

I little involvement with people

I only programming, no awareness of breadth

I seen as male discipline

I general lack of knowledge

I lack of role models and career counselling

I poor subject choices at school

I stereotyping of careers

I surprisingly, lack of access can correlate with higher interest

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Why do we have this situation?

I perceptions of computer scienceI clerical, use of application software

I little involvement with people

I only programming, no awareness of breadth

I seen as male discipline

I general lack of knowledge

I lack of role models and career counselling

I poor subject choices at school

I stereotyping of careers

I surprisingly, lack of access can correlate with higher interest

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Why do we have this situation?

I perceptions of computer scienceI clerical, use of application software

I little involvement with people

I only programming, no awareness of breadth

I seen as male discipline

I general lack of knowledge

I lack of role models and career counsellingI poor subject choices at school

I stereotyping of careers

I surprisingly, lack of access can correlate with higher interest

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Why do we have this situation?

I perceptions of computer scienceI clerical, use of application software

I little involvement with people

I only programming, no awareness of breadth

I seen as male discipline

I general lack of knowledge

I lack of role models and career counsellingI poor subject choices at school

I stereotyping of careers

I surprisingly, lack of access can correlate with higher interest

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

How can the situation be changed?

I selection of current and ongoing activities

I school: Dinaledi, Mathematics and Science Camps for Girls

I university: SA-WISE, breadth-first first year course

I industry: WIIT, Vodacom Graduate Programme, LinuxChixAfrica, WICT, Women’sNet

I interventions suggested by SA-Finnish research project

I South African resource centre for women in ICT

I increased research capacity in women and ICT

I workable and integrated system for measuring ICT involvement

I training programmes for school teachers

I training programmes for girls and young women

I dissemination and awareness raising activities

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

How can the situation be changed?

I selection of current and ongoing activities

I school: Dinaledi, Mathematics and Science Camps for Girls

I university: SA-WISE, breadth-first first year course

I industry: WIIT, Vodacom Graduate Programme, LinuxChixAfrica, WICT, Women’sNet

I interventions suggested by SA-Finnish research project

I South African resource centre for women in ICT

I increased research capacity in women and ICT

I workable and integrated system for measuring ICT involvement

I training programmes for school teachers

I training programmes for girls and young women

I dissemination and awareness raising activities

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

How can the situation be changed?

I selection of current and ongoing activitiesI school: Dinaledi, Mathematics and Science Camps for Girls

I university: SA-WISE, breadth-first first year course

I industry: WIIT, Vodacom Graduate Programme, LinuxChixAfrica, WICT, Women’sNet

I interventions suggested by SA-Finnish research project

I South African resource centre for women in ICT

I increased research capacity in women and ICT

I workable and integrated system for measuring ICT involvement

I training programmes for school teachers

I training programmes for girls and young women

I dissemination and awareness raising activities

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

How can the situation be changed?

I selection of current and ongoing activitiesI school: Dinaledi, Mathematics and Science Camps for Girls

I university: SA-WISE, breadth-first first year course

I industry: WIIT, Vodacom Graduate Programme, LinuxChixAfrica, WICT, Women’sNet

I interventions suggested by SA-Finnish research project

I South African resource centre for women in ICT

I increased research capacity in women and ICT

I workable and integrated system for measuring ICT involvement

I training programmes for school teachers

I training programmes for girls and young women

I dissemination and awareness raising activities

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

How can the situation be changed?

I selection of current and ongoing activitiesI school: Dinaledi, Mathematics and Science Camps for Girls

I university: SA-WISE, breadth-first first year course

I industry: WIIT, Vodacom Graduate Programme, LinuxChixAfrica, WICT, Women’sNet

I interventions suggested by SA-Finnish research project

I South African resource centre for women in ICT

I increased research capacity in women and ICT

I workable and integrated system for measuring ICT involvement

I training programmes for school teachers

I training programmes for girls and young women

I dissemination and awareness raising activities

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

How can the situation be changed?

I selection of current and ongoing activitiesI school: Dinaledi, Mathematics and Science Camps for Girls

I university: SA-WISE, breadth-first first year course

I industry: WIIT, Vodacom Graduate Programme, LinuxChixAfrica, WICT, Women’sNet

I interventions suggested by SA-Finnish research project

I South African resource centre for women in ICT

I increased research capacity in women and ICT

I workable and integrated system for measuring ICT involvement

I training programmes for school teachers

I training programmes for girls and young women

I dissemination and awareness raising activities

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

How can the situation be changed?

I selection of current and ongoing activitiesI school: Dinaledi, Mathematics and Science Camps for Girls

I university: SA-WISE, breadth-first first year course

I industry: WIIT, Vodacom Graduate Programme, LinuxChixAfrica, WICT, Women’sNet

I interventions suggested by SA-Finnish research projectI South African resource centre for women in ICT

I increased research capacity in women and ICT

I workable and integrated system for measuring ICT involvement

I training programmes for school teachers

I training programmes for girls and young women

I dissemination and awareness raising activities

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Other sub-Saharan countries

I difficult to find statistics or other information

I research focus is often on ICT usage in development

I low participation in tertiary education

I Eritrea 10%, Botswana 10%, Kenya 15%I Uganda 27%, Nigeria 30%, South Africa 31%

I Cisco Networking Academy Gender Initiative

I Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda

I industry

I developing countries in general: women in low-level jobs

I word processing and data entry

I similar reasons to South Africa?

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Other sub-Saharan countries

I difficult to find statistics or other information

I research focus is often on ICT usage in development

I low participation in tertiary education

I Eritrea 10%, Botswana 10%, Kenya 15%I Uganda 27%, Nigeria 30%, South Africa 31%

I Cisco Networking Academy Gender Initiative

I Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda

I industry

I developing countries in general: women in low-level jobs

I word processing and data entry

I similar reasons to South Africa?

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Other sub-Saharan countries

I difficult to find statistics or other information

I research focus is often on ICT usage in development

I low participation in tertiary educationI Eritrea 10%, Botswana 10%, Kenya 15%I Uganda 27%, Nigeria 30%, South Africa 31%

I Cisco Networking Academy Gender Initiative

I Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda

I industry

I developing countries in general: women in low-level jobs

I word processing and data entry

I similar reasons to South Africa?

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Other sub-Saharan countries

I difficult to find statistics or other information

I research focus is often on ICT usage in development

I low participation in tertiary educationI Eritrea 10%, Botswana 10%, Kenya 15%I Uganda 27%, Nigeria 30%, South Africa 31%

I Cisco Networking Academy Gender InitiativeI Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda

I industry

I developing countries in general: women in low-level jobs

I word processing and data entry

I similar reasons to South Africa?

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Other sub-Saharan countries

I difficult to find statistics or other information

I research focus is often on ICT usage in development

I low participation in tertiary educationI Eritrea 10%, Botswana 10%, Kenya 15%I Uganda 27%, Nigeria 30%, South Africa 31%

I Cisco Networking Academy Gender InitiativeI Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda

I industryI developing countries in general: women in low-level jobs

I word processing and data entry

I similar reasons to South Africa?

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Other sub-Saharan countries

I difficult to find statistics or other information

I research focus is often on ICT usage in development

I low participation in tertiary educationI Eritrea 10%, Botswana 10%, Kenya 15%I Uganda 27%, Nigeria 30%, South Africa 31%

I Cisco Networking Academy Gender InitiativeI Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda

I industryI developing countries in general: women in low-level jobs

I word processing and data entry

I similar reasons to South Africa?

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

ACM-W ambassador program

I ACM’s Committee on the Status of Women in Computing

I ambassador program started by Tracy Camp and Denise Gurer

I goal of expanding ACM-W beyond North America

I ambassadors to provide information about women incomputing in their country

I Australia, Canada, Germany, India, New Zealand, Pakistan,South Africa, Turkey, UK, USA

I more countries to be added

I see http://www.acm.org/women

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

ACM-W ambassador program

I ACM’s Committee on the Status of Women in Computing

I ambassador program started by Tracy Camp and Denise Gurer

I goal of expanding ACM-W beyond North America

I ambassadors to provide information about women incomputing in their country

I Australia, Canada, Germany, India, New Zealand, Pakistan,South Africa, Turkey, UK, USA

I more countries to be added

I see http://www.acm.org/women

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

ACM-W ambassador program

I ACM’s Committee on the Status of Women in Computing

I ambassador program started by Tracy Camp and Denise Gurer

I goal of expanding ACM-W beyond North America

I ambassadors to provide information about women incomputing in their country

I Australia, Canada, Germany, India, New Zealand, Pakistan,South Africa, Turkey, UK, USA

I more countries to be added

I see http://www.acm.org/women

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

ACM-W ambassador program

I ACM’s Committee on the Status of Women in Computing

I ambassador program started by Tracy Camp and Denise Gurer

I goal of expanding ACM-W beyond North America

I ambassadors to provide information about women incomputing in their country

I Australia, Canada, Germany, India, New Zealand, Pakistan,South Africa, Turkey, UK, USA

I more countries to be added

I see http://www.acm.org/women

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

ACM-W ambassador program

I ACM’s Committee on the Status of Women in Computing

I ambassador program started by Tracy Camp and Denise Gurer

I goal of expanding ACM-W beyond North America

I ambassadors to provide information about women incomputing in their country

I Australia, Canada, Germany, India, New Zealand, Pakistan,South Africa, Turkey, UK, USA

I more countries to be added

I see http://www.acm.org/women

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

ACM-W ambassador program

I ACM’s Committee on the Status of Women in Computing

I ambassador program started by Tracy Camp and Denise Gurer

I goal of expanding ACM-W beyond North America

I ambassadors to provide information about women incomputing in their country

I Australia, Canada, Germany, India, New Zealand, Pakistan,South Africa, Turkey, UK, USA

I more countries to be added

I see http://www.acm.org/women

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

ACM-W ambassador program

I ACM’s Committee on the Status of Women in Computing

I ambassador program started by Tracy Camp and Denise Gurer

I goal of expanding ACM-W beyond North America

I ambassadors to provide information about women incomputing in their country

I Australia, Canada, Germany, India, New Zealand, Pakistan,South Africa, Turkey, UK, USA

I more countries to be added

I see http://www.acm.org/women

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008

Introduction What? Why? How? Sub-Saharan Africa Ambassadors

Thank you

Vashti Galpin

Women in Computing in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries BCSWomen AGM 2008