In recognition of the Gender and
ICT initiatives all over the globe, we have created this projects
database and made it available online. The database is a repository
of Gender and ICT projects which were nominated and had qualified
for the GICT Awards 2003 screening. This will be enriched by each
award year. We are hoping that these efforts will inspire others
to network, advocate and mobilize ICTs for women's empowerment and
gender equality.
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A. PROJECT INFORMATION |
| 1. a. Project Name or Title: | Women's IT Professional Training Program |
| b. Project URL, if any: | No specific Project URL available |
a. Utilizes ICTs to promote women's economic empowerment |
| a.1 What types of ICT tools do you use? | Training Facility: - Floor space: Total area 843.13, four computer training rooms
- Training equipment:
(Hardware) 31 Workstation PCs, 69 PCs, 1 laptop PC, 2 servers,
4 Laser jet printers, 2 desk jet printers, 4 scanners,
4 LCD projectors
(Software) - Design tools - Photoshop CS, Illustrators CS
- Web design & development - Dreamweaver MX 2004,
- Flash programming - Flash MX 2004,
- 3D design & modeling - 3D studio MAX,
- Office tools - MS word/ MS powerpoint |
| a.2 How does the application of these contribute to the promotion of women's economic empowerment and gender equality? | - Supports entry of women professionals in a male dominant IT profession
- Develops a professional IT training course which creates opportunities for women
- Inspires professional consciousness among women through continuous consulting and job lectures
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| a.3 How was the achievement of women's economic empowerment and gender equality assessed/determined? | This project was assessed by the Business Evaluation Committee, an organization established in part by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, to be an excellent business for women's economic empowerment through "Women's IT Professional Training." In particular, the project received high scores for its professionalism in training and its contribution to women advancing into the IT industry which has been relatively low.
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| a.4 Which cultural, traditional and religious gender-biased notions and beliefs were challenged, if any? | As of 2004 the female economically active population in Korea stands at 48.9% which is drastically lower than the male economically active population rate of 74.6%. In the "Opinions Toward Obstruction of Female Employment by Sex, Educational Attainment and Age" report released in 2002, results showed housework & child rearing to be the highest employment obstacle for women at 38.8% followed by social prejudice at 22.8% and working conditions such as promotion at 12.4%. Viewing these results, it is clear that job segregation by sex and social prejudice towards women are challenges that must be overcome.
Taking this situation into consideration, in 2002, 337,451 men (70.5%) and 141,488 women (29.5%) held jobs in the IT sector out of a total of 478,899 positions. In other words, sexual inequality in the IT profession was noticed as female employment was only 1/3 of male employment. |
| a.5 In what ways is your project different from others in enabling women's economic empowerment and gender equality? | The host of this project, the Seoul Women's Foundation, is a professional organization for women established in 2002 under the auspices of the Seoul Metropolitan Government. A stable budget has been secured for this project to provide professional education to women in cooperation with a professional IT training institute. Thus, this project offers women high quality education at low cost. Those that complete the course are eligible to receive an IT related corporate internship program, job consulting, and professional consciousness training. Ultimately, this project substantially supports women's economic empowerment by helping more women enter the IT profession. |
| a.6 What added value does your project bring to the ICT for development fora? | Networking: Exclusive female networking is supported through all women courses and continuous consulting.
Confidence: Confidence that women can enter and grow in the IT profession is achieved.
Sense of Duty: A sense of duty as the core leader of a knowledge based society is developed. |
b. Upscales initiatives and community-centred technologies |
| b.1 Please narrate specific innovative or new approaches employed by the project, if any, that contribute to its development and its relevance to the community it is serving. | - This training program is not confined to basic IT training, but has been designed to provide long-term expertise in the field of web design which is an area that women can easily enter.
- Participation in a local corporate internship program is possible. |
| b.2 Describe the processes or mechanisms that are in place to ensure the project's sustainability. | - Project funding: The Women's IT Professional Training Program has been chosen as the main project among the female workforce development projects stipulated in the statues and regulations of the Seoul Women?s Foundation. Therefore, a secure budget is provided to ensure a stable business foundation.
In 2003, 22.4% of total estimated costs were allocated as budget.
In 2004, 25% of total estimated costs were allocated as budget.
In 2005, 17.2% of total estimated costs were allocated as budget.
- Professional training: Each year the Seoul Women's Foundation organizes a screening committee comprised of experts to select a partner training institute. In order to ensure professional education, trainers and training systems of professional IT training institutes are adopted.
- Internship: Networks have been established with five IT companies to increase chances of employment through internship programs for trainees.
- Total employment support: Professional consciousness training and job consulting is provided. |
| b.3 How can your project be replicated elsewhere? | - Sharing of curriculum
- Publication of Foundation's Project Report
- Extension of program to other women related non-profit organizations |
c. Promotes cooperation and social networking
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| c.1 Who participates in the initiative? (Please identify participants, beneficiaries, and implementation partners. Provide specific demographic (age, income, rural/urban) information about your beneficiaries.) | - Host organization: Seoul Women's Foundation
- Implementation partners
--for IT education organization: JoongAng Ilbo ITEA, Daou Data System, Jungle Communications
--for internship program : company related in IT community base
- Participants (Beneficiaries): (Please see table in the application form) |
| c.2 Please identify the project's most important partners and explain their role in the project and in helping to mainstream gender. | -Seoul Women's Foundation: Project decision making and execution
-Seoul Metropolitan Government: Facilities investment and budget support
-JoongAng Ilbo ITEA, Daou Data System, Jungle Communications: Professional IT training provider for women
-IT companies: Internship provider for women |
| c.3 How does the project foster cooperation and active participation among the different sectors (government, private sector, civil society) in the community? | - (Government) Seoul Metropolitan Government:
Supports funding for Foundation's operations and has commissioned the Foundation to operate the Seoul Women's Plaza.
- (Semi-Government) Seoul Women's Foundation:
Hosts the Women's IT Professional Training Program, provides IT training grounds and equipment, recruits trainees, and supports funding for training.
- (Private)
Professional IT training institute: Develops and operates
training courses to foster women professionals, and recruits trainees.
- Women's Universities: Recruits female students and promotes the program online through campus employment offices.
- (Civil) Women's groups and women's social education centers participate in promotional activities for the training program. |
| c.4 How does the project strengthen the capacity of those who are involved in its implementation? | Seoul Women's Foundation: Strengthens position as a professional IT training center for women in Seoul.
Professional IT training institutes: Integrates gender perspective to offer training courses tailored to women.
Companies that provide internships: Builds a corporate culture of gender equality through establishing intern programs which leverage female talent. |
3. Learning Lessons and Sharing Strategies |
| a. Why, when, and how did the project begin? | (WHY) Demand for IT professionals increased due to changes in Korea's IT environment.
Competent web designers skilled in web design and flash programming are needed.
Digital contents developers for a wireless Internet environment are needed.
- Substantial difference witnessed in male/female employment ratio
Female economically active population is 48.9%. (Male 74.6%, at end of 2003)
The number of female IT workers are only 1/3 of male workers.
- A program linked with industry is needed to develop a training program and recruiting process satisfying the demands of the industry.
(WHEN) The Seoul Metropolitan Government established the Seoul Women's Foundation in January, 2002.
- The ICT Education Center, a women's IT professional training institute, opened in December, 2002.
(HOW) Security of training grounds: Total area of 843.13?
- Procurement of training equipment: 100 PCs (including 31 workstations), 2 servers etc.
- Flash MX professional course / 3D CG web designer course started March, 2003.
- Web design professional course / character animation professional course started in 2004
- Web design & flash professional course / flash mobile contents course started in 2005. |
| b. What are the goals of the initiative? | To foster women IT professionals
To increase social participation of women and support their economic activity |
| c. How are decisions being made in project implementation? | The plans for the women's IT professional training program were established according to the Foundation's articles of association. The board of directors approved the project plan.
Plans to establish and operate the ICT Education Center were fixed by the Seoul Women's Foundation.
It was decided to jointly operate the program with a private training institute to raise efficiency and professionalism.
The partner for joint operation was decided by a screening committee comprised of experts.
Screening Committee 8 members (Internal: President of Seoul Women's Foundation, External: 7 experts)
Judgment Criteria: Training plan (40%): Education direction, content, reasonable budget for each course, appropriate teaching method etc.
Operation capability (40%): Scheme to attract students and promote program, employment record and scheme to raise the percentage of employment etc.
Institutional capability (20%): Situation and standard of full time trainers, IT training record
- Flash MX professional course / 3D CG web designer course started March, 2003.
- Web design professional course / character animation professional course started in 2004
- Web design & flash professional course / flash mobile contents course started in 2005. |
| d. What mechanisms are in place to ensure transparency and accountability in implementing the project? | The professional training institute to develop and operate the training program is decided through a strict screening process.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government conducts audits and yearly project assessments after project implementation.
The project plan is approved by the board of directors and project results are submitted regularly.
The Seoul City Council conducts an independent audit. |
| e. What results and/or immediate outcomes has the initiative achieved, and what impact has it had on the beneficiaries, participants, and community? | 1. Results
-Established recognition as a professional IT training institute
-Developed an IT training course favorable to female employment
-Deployed women professionals into the IT sector
2. Impact
-Beneficiaries (participants)
-Jobs for trainees
In 2003, 23 out of 56 trainees were employed (41%)
In 2004, 18 out of 38 trainees were employed (47%)
Training is ongoing in 2005.
3. Community
-Acquired professional IT training institute for women in Seoul
-Secured women professionals HR pool for the IT industry |
| f. What tools and processes did you use to monitor and evaluate the results of the initiative? | Consulting:
Methods to review the progress of education and prevent drop outs in the middle of the program have been established through periodic consulting sessions.
Evaluation of training:
Evaluation is made through a 5 point Likert scale survey submitted by trainees after training.
Board of directors and city council:
Project plan approval and final report |
| B. GENERAL INFORMATION |
| 1. Name of individual or organization | Seoul Women's Foundation | |
| 2. Address | Seoul Women's Plaza
345-1 Daebang-dong, Dongjak-gu
Seoul 156-808 |
| 3. Region/Country | Asia, South Korea |
| 4. Telephone number | 82-2-810-5044 |
| 5. Fax number | 82-2-810-5100 |
| 6. E-mail address | women@seoulwomen.or.kr |
| 7. Organisation's URL (if applicable): | www.seoulwomen.or.kr/sw/english/eng_index.html |
| 8. Name and designation of person submitting this application form | Do-Yoon Byun (Ms.)
President |
| 9. Organization's Vision/Mission | (Vision) The realization of gender equality and strengthened national competitiveness in the 21st century
(Mission) - To play a central role in women facilities and information exchange.
- To increase the role of women that guides knowledge digitalization and globalization.
- To foster women professionals and increase benefits and welfare
- To establish responsible management and raise financial self-reliance. |
| 10. Where did you hear about the GICT Awards? | Through the e-mail announcement of apww-meet |
