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WIT status December 2007In his 5 years, WIT has become a role model for promoting women
in science and technology at the Vienna University of Technology. Its
manifold approaches are aimed not only at the promotion of female junior
scientists, but include career support measures for women in all stages
of IT education. WIT offers measures for female high school students
and graduates, as well as university students, which are well received.
- 8 PhD students
are working, researching and publishing within the PhD program,
- 670 high school and 390 university students have participated in
about 110 Admina.at
courses,
- 290 high school students have attended the four giTi
days, and more than 2.400 received information from FIT-giTi-ambassadors
beforehand at their school,
- 13 Tandems in the mentoring-project for beginners: big
sister.first steps,
- 8 female IT-academics in TU!MentorING
programme,
- and about 2.900 guests from science and industry enjoyed the 29
talks at WIT-Events.
But quantity is not everything - the quality of our activities is
very important to us. The feedback we receive in this respect is very
positive.
History and concept
The Women's Postgraduate College for Internet
Technologies (WIT) is part of a series of projects promoting
women in science and technology (fFORTE),
initiated by the Austrian Council
for Research and Technology Development to provide for higher competitiveness
in the global marketplace and the scientific world. WIT was established
at the Vienna University of Technology in response to the underrepresentation
of women in science and technology, particularly in computer science,
and is the largest project within fFORTE.
The Women's Postgraduate College for Internet Technologies was initiated
in 2003 and has a scope of five years. It provides a Ph.D. program that
is unique in Austria, combining research in science and technology on
the highest international level with career support measures and mentoring
activities offered to female high school and university students as
well as junior researchers. WIT's activities are grouped into three
main areas:
- Ph.D. program for women in internet technologies.
The WIT Ph.D. curriculum and training program provides an introduction
to the role of a scientist
and an entry into the international scientific community for 8
female Ph.D. students. A broad and diverse qualification development
approach (technical as well as non-technical)
also prepares the Ph.D. students for managerial and leadership functions.
The choice of internet technologies as the main research focus was
motivated by the emerging and expanding character of a research field
that employs advanced information and communication technologies.
Furthermore, the Faculty
of Informatics at the Vienna University of Technology, where WIT
is based, has a scientific focus on internet technologies as well.
- Mentoring for students and junior scientists.
Special programs shall encourage young women during their final year
in school to consider studying computer science (giTi
- girls IT information). Personal and professional skills are
fostered throughout the female students' university career, in order
to actively motivate them to pursue a successful scientific career
(Admina.at, Mentoring
program). Visiting female
lecturers as well as international scientific cooperation and
exchange programs
support the creation of role models and the integration of the pre-doc
researchers into the scientific community.
- Communication platform for research
and further education. A diverse set of communication
initiatives (colloquium series,
further education tutorials, web portal, etc.) supports continuing
education, provides visibility for successful women in computer science
and creates awareness in the general public. These activities are
aimed at supporting the exchange of knowledge and encouraging networks
between scientists in the same field of study.
The Faculty of Informatics at the Vienna University of Technology is
more than 30 years old and has a high reputation for research and teaching
excellence, both in Austria and internationally. The Faculty of Informatics
is the largest faculty of its kind in Austria. The integration of WIT
into the Faculty of Informatics provides a broad spectrum of research
and personal expertise to the Ph.D. students.
The vision of WIT is to become an institution with an outstanding reputation
for scientific excellence. WIT is dedicated to providing its female
researchers and students with an education that combines intensive academic
study and the excitement of discovery with the support and intellectual
stimulation of a diverse community. WIT is committed to advancing knowledge
and educating its Ph.D. students in science and technology in a way
that will best serve the challenges of a science and technology-based
industry in the 21st century.
more information in English 
WIT brochure (German)
Detailed project proposal (updated version, German)
this page is maintained by Ulli
Pastner
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