Gender Equality

Computer science

The digital sector, which is currently under pressure, is the subject of much research in the human and social sciences because it offers opportunities for young graduates who are not necessarily interested in the disciplines and professions it covers. Computer science suffers from many preconceptions and prejudices (such as the ‘myth of self-education’) that it is important to understand in order to help students get a better picture of it and to consider it as an option. Finally, as a subject that is still perceived as male-dominated, it is essential to incorporate gender into this issue.

The Institut Gaston Berger is leading an internal INSA working group on this subject and is proposing action in various areas:
Field research, sending a questionnaire to all students starting first year in 2017 and 2018 to find out about their perceptions and past experiences with computers. 
Training, through the deployment of an educational project based on the results of the questionnaire and the organisation of a conference on gender stereotypes for all engineering students in the IT department.
These projects were made possible thanks to close collaboration with the FIMI department and the IT department’s Women and IT Committee.
Information for the general public is available thanks to a conference by Isabelle Collet that can be watched online.
Incentive programmes for secondary schools, as part of the CAP'INFO Parcours d’Excellence project (link colleges-lycées-INSA).

Legal framework

‘The Ministry of Women’s Rights, the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research, the Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs and representatives of the digital sector intend to activate various levers to promote gender diversity, by acting on the representation of professions in public opinion, student guidance, career changes, recruitment and training’. They have thus made a joint commitment by signing a Sector-wide Digital Diversity Plan.
 

Surveys

Structures

Initiatives and resources

Mooc