Who we are
Women into Computing (WiC) is a network of people committed to raising the profile of women in the computing and IT fields. Our membership, though largely based in the UK education sector, includes people from many different areas of computing and a number of countries overseas. For historical reasons, and the fact that our most active members have always come from this sector, the main focus of our activities has been in higher education; but we have also worked with colleagues and organisations in a number of other areas.
Where we came from
The catalyst for WiC was the falling numbers of female students enrolling on computing courses in UK universities in the early nineteen eighties. While the percentages of women studying subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering were increasing, the proportions on computing courses continued to decline. An electronic mailing list was set up by computing academics interested in exploring the reasons for this and in exchanging suggestions for reversing the trend.

Subscribers to the list were invited to a meeting at Heriot Watt University in November 1987, at which it was decided to organise a national conference on the general theme of Women and Computing, which was held at the University of Lancaster in July 1988 and attracted about 200 participants from education, training and the computing industry. One of the outcomes was a decision to set up the network on a permanent basis, and the inaugural meeting of what has become Women into Computing was held at the University of Manchester in October 1988. In 1999 WiC became affiliated to the British Computer Society
Our Activities
WiC has been involved in a variety of initiatives designed to increase the representation and impact of women in all areas of computing and to support those already there. Our activities have included:

Organising events aimed at attracting more women to study computing at further and higher education level

Holding national conferences at UK Universities to raise the profile of our campaign and provide a forum for our members and others to discuss their research and activities in the field of women and computing with other interested academics and groups.

 

1997 De Montfort University, Milton Keynes

1994 University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) (in conjunction with the IFIP Conference on Women Work and Computerisation)

1992 Keele University

1990 University of East Anglia

1988 University of Lancaster

Proceedings from some of these conferences are still available.

Organising one-day conferences and seminars on particular topics

Producing a Newsletter, which is distributed free to all members and university computing departments

Building links and cooperating with other groups and campaigns with aims similar to our own

Gathering information on the numbers and situation of women students and academics in UK universities

Campaigning within the Committee of Heads and Professors of Computing (CPHC) on issues of importance to women students and academics, including the acceptance of gender related work as a valid area of computing research. A representative from WiC attends most CPHC Committee meetings.

Providing a point of contact and source of support for our members
How are we organised?
WiC is an entirely voluntary organisation. Membership is open to anyone who shares our aims and has an interest in our activities. Day to day organisation is carried out by a small group of members .

Decisions are taken at quarterly meetings, open to all members, and usually held at university computing departments. Important decisions are communicated to members via the Newsletter or our electronic mailing list.
How are our activities funded?
A number of university computing departments have provided us with facilities for meetings and mailings, and have funded the participation of their staff in our activities. Day-to-day costs have been supplemented by our membership fees.

For major events, such as conferences, we have received financial support and other sponsorship from universities, local authorities, the Equal Opportunities Commission and a number of commercial organisations.

The funding of this Web Site included a contribution from the CPHC.