Inhalt: This report presents the findings of a research project commissioned by the Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to explore the barriers facing under-represented
groups in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) research. The focus of this
research is predominantly on the issue of gender, but other characteristics (disability,
ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation) were also considered.
To date there has been a lack of specific research looking at the experience of postgraduates
and staff in computer science and the related disciplines relevant to EPSRC’s ICT research
portfolio. Therefore the aim of the study was to identify and document the challenges and
barriers faced by under-represented groups pursuing careers in academic research in these
areas. This should help the academic community to better understand and therefore address
these barriers, so that more people from under-represented groups are attracted to, and
stay in, these disciplines.
The objectives of the study were therefore:
· to investigate the nature of the cohort of researchers in ICT across the career stages;
· to identify and describe the nature of the barriers and challenges facing under-
represented groups in pursuing academic careers;
· to identify the features of the environment and culture of ICT as practised in
academia that make it more or less attractive to under-represented groups; and
· to generate evidence-based recommendations that can be used by the community
and/or EPSRC as appropriate, to effect change.
The study had four elements:
1) A review of relevant literature in order to: identify the key likely issues from existing
work on women in STEM, academia and the tech industry more broadly; and to
develop the ensuing empirical work and help contextualise its findings.
2) Analysis of bespoke data from the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA), in
order to establish the extent of under-representation in computer science, and
whether job characteristics such as permanence and length of tenure were
concentrated within particular groups.
3) An online survey (which was completed by 866 respondents) to collect the views and
experiences of current and former postgraduates and staff.
4) 46 follow up interviews, to explore the issues raised in the survey in more depth.
Schlagwörter:Arbeitsforschung; Diversity; Frauen; Informatik; UK; Unterrepräsentanz
CEWS Kategorie:Diversity
Dokumenttyp:Graue Literatur, Bericht