DigitHer - between skills and empowerment, the future of women is digital
The DigitHer project in Italy aims to train and place 150 women aged between 18 and 34 towards digital professions. The initiative jointly undertaken by Generation Italy and Valore D seeks to address critical gaps in the Italian workforce, particularly concerning gender equality and digital skills through a tailored, intensive, and inclusive training programme.
The project leverages the expertise of both organisations. Valore D's track record in Diversity and Inclusion training, having equipped over 8,000 professionals, combined with Generation's success in digital training with an 84% placement rate for 4,000+ youths, forms the foundation of this initiative. The initiative is funded under Repubblica Digitale (initiative of the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance), through the EU Recovery & Resilience Facility.
Background and context
The project offers a concrete contribution to solve one of the most pressing social paradoxes: Italy registers amongst the highest unemployment levels across Europe, affecting specifically youth and women. At the same time employers struggle to fill more than 1.1 million vacancies. This is significant for professions in the tech/digital space. Italy ranks 25 out of 27 countries considered for tech skills in the Digital Economy and Society Index under the 2023 Digital Decade reports.
As such, the rationale behind the project is deeply rooted in addressing pressing societal needs:
- Self-esteem, confidence, and STEM education: Women's underrepresentation in STEM fields is exacerbated by low self-confidence, hindering their academic and professional success.
- Lack of digital skills: Despite the growing demand for digital expertise, there exists a significant gender gap in IT-related disciplines, limiting women's access to lucrative career opportunities.
- Demand for specialized digital profiles: The evolving digital landscape necessitates a workforce equipped with advanced digital skills, presenting a substantial demand for professionals in the digital domain.
- Employment and participation: Increasing female labour force participation not only fosters gender equality but also contributes to economic productivity and growth.
- Accessibility: Traditional barriers prevent individuals from diverse educational backgrounds from entering digital professions, exacerbating the skill gap and perpetuating inequalities.
Aims and objectives
Aligned with these needs, the project aims to achieve two overarching goals:
- Improvement of digital and employment skills: By training 150 women in high-demand digital professions like Java Developers and Data Engineers, the initiative not only equips them with technical skills but also fosters soft skills crucial for professional success. This approach enhances employability and self-confidence, addressing the identified needs comprehensively.
- Opportunities for job placement and professional advancement: The project facilitates job interviews for participants, aiming for an 80% employment rate post-training. Each learner is guaranteed at least one job interview at the end of the program, on average learners are provided 2-3 job interviews each.
Moreover, a key indicator of success lies in securing tangible opportunities for participants. Therefore, the initiative aims to secure at least 160 job interviews with employer partners, providing a direct pathway to employment for the trained individuals.
Why is this a good practice?
The initiative sets out clear, measurable goals to gauge its impact and success. It aims to train 150 women aged 18-34, facilitating their entry into the digital workforce. To achieve this, the project organized 6 training cohorts, ensuring comprehensive coverage across different regions and demographics.
All 6 cohorts completed the training phase and entered into the placement one. Out of the targeted 150 women, 174 enrolled, and 147 successfully graduated. Amongst these, 31 secured placements, with 15 specializing in Data and 16 in Java. Currently, 53 students are currently in the interview process with different companies. The initiative's impact extends across 17 regions, showcasing the nationwide reach, with an average age of 27.8.
Ultimately, the project's success hinges on the effective placement of its graduates into gainful employment. With this in mind, the goal is to have 80% of participants graduate from the program and seamlessly transition into jobs by project end. Main key performance indicators on employment are status of employment, employment contracts, salary range. Impact is also tracked up to 15 months after graduation.
DigitHer goes beyond mere training: rather, it offers tailored mentorship and integration of participants within the project's wider network of employers, thereby enhancing career prospects and long-term success. The scalability of the project ensures its potential to be replicated across Europe, addressing gender disparities in tech on a broader scale. Finally, DigitHer contributes both to improving employment amongst society segments that encounter more difficulties to enter the job market and to increasing the level of productivity in tech.
