Improving Diversity and Inclusion in Academic ICT (Information and Communication Technologies)
- Target:
- UK academia, professional bodies for ICT
- Region:
- United Kingdom
- Website:
- www.cs.stir.ac.uk
Currently, approximately 26 per cent of the ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) student population, and 23 per cent of the research staff in computer sciences and electronic and electrical engineering, are women. 22% of staff are BAME. 4% of staff have a known disability. Little data is available for other protected characteristics.
In 2017 EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) commissioned an investigation into the challenges and barriers facing under-represented groups in pursuing academic careers in ICT. The study provided a clear baseline picture of the cohort of researchers across ICT and identified features of the environment and culture of ICT as practised in academia that make it more or less attractive to under-represented groups. For example, women and men have different motivation for academic careers, and the long hours culture of academic is less appealing for women than men and may not support caring responsibilities well. Since women often provide caring responsibilities, the environment needs to be more flexible in supporting those responsibilities. The study showed that women in ICT are less confident than men and daily micro-aggressions and discrimination erode that confidence.
To address the problem of under-representation in ICT we need a change in the community to be more open and inclusive, and a commitment to tackling existing barriers to participation. We can do this by working together. We are asking heads of departments of ICT areas (computer science, user-interface technologies, communications, electronics and photonics) to sign up to the call for action to demonstrate your commitment as a leader to improve diversity in ICT.
Recognising the importance of diversity and inclusion in research and the need to improve this in academic Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and acknowledging that diversity is broader than women and black and ethnic minority groups, we, the undersigned, agree on the following actions as first steps on the road to striking a fair and equitable balance for all:
1. We will improve the working environment of ICT in academia ensuring that the culture is inclusive and supports all staff and students in maintaining an equitable work/life balance.
2. We will take action to increase the number of female, black and minority ethnic (BAME) undergraduates.
3. We will ensure that the numbers of female academic appointments will have increased over the next five years and endeavour to increase the number of BAME appointments (recognising that some of the issues underlying underrepresentation differ).
4. We will ensure that the working environment is supportive of all colleague, but most especially we will support and encourage early career researchers to develop their careers.
5. We will ensure that our processes for recruitment, promotion, selection for committees and other roles are open, fair and transparent.
6. We will recognise that different researchers follow different career paths and that there are different styles of leadership and that all are equally valid.
7. We will work to establish a baseline against which we can measure progress.
8. We will work together to share best practice.
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The Improving Diversity and Inclusion in Academic ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) petition to UK academia, professional bodies for ICT was written by Carron Shankland and is in the category Science & Technology at GoPetition.