VIETNAM WOMEN’S UNIONVIETNAM WOMEN’S UNIONCENTER FOR WOMEN AND CENTER FOR WOMEN AND

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

VIETNAMESE WOMENVIETNAMESE WOMEN&&

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

I. Women and ITI. Women and IT

► Vietnamese women workforce is a potential market for IT Vietnamese women workforce is a potential market for IT and IT applied sciences (such as Improvement of Computer and IT applied sciences (such as Improvement of Computer Usage and Public Internet Access Ability in Vietnam) to Usage and Public Internet Access Ability in Vietnam) to make best use of information exploring for life and make best use of information exploring for life and factoringfactoring

1.1. General InformationGeneral Information

(According to statistics provided by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and research conducted (According to statistics provided by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and research conducted by the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT)).by the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT)).

► In universities and colleges that provide trainings on IT as a In universities and colleges that provide trainings on IT as a major, the number of women professors and trainers count major, the number of women professors and trainers count for 26% and number of women students whose major is IT for 26% and number of women students whose major is IT count for 32,4% (according to statistics provided by the count for 32,4% (according to statistics provided by the CSO)CSO)

Women in labor force ~ 50%

Female entrepreneurs ~ 25%

Education and training ~ 69%

Commerce and repair ~ 66%

Finance and credit ~ 52%

Science and technology ~ 30%

Cultural and Sports ~ 36%

► Vietnamese womenVietnamese women count approximatelycount approximately 50% of the labor 50% of the labor force,force, 83% participating in83% participating in business and 42% ofbusiness and 42% of employees employees participatingparticipating in Communication in Communication andand InformationTechnologyInformationTechnology**

► Women are over represented in areas of training and education such as pedagogy and social sciences, while male students dominate in technical disciplines. This segregation is likely to limit women's ability to participate in the changing Labour market, as well as the country's ability to development a trained and flexible human resource with which to build a modem economy.

Women and ITWomen and IT

The point of Party and government

►Vietnam consider ICT is the most important technology

► It is a strategy of Government to use ICT as one kind of economical sector for implementing the century development objects

►Government uses ICT to expand the informative social live, to curtail the progress of industrialization and modernization

VWU: Aims within 2020

►Raising awareness for women by the role and effect of ICT

► more training courses for women to introduce them into ICT and to better their computer skills

►Pilot model to implement ICT applications to upgrade manufacturing, office work and to simplify studying in rural and poor areas

2. Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) and 2. Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) and ITIT

1.1. General informationGeneral information

► Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) was found in 1930. The history of Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) was found in 1930. The history of VWU is closely attached to the country’s history for national VWU is closely attached to the country’s history for national independence and development. independence and development.

President of VWU gives speech at WITFOR 2009

► VWU has a network that operatesVWU has a network that operates throughout Vietnam at four throughout Vietnam at four administrativeadministrative levels of central, provincial, district levels of central, provincial, district andand commune ones with a total commune ones with a total membership ofmembership of above 14 million women. Since itsabove 14 million women. Since its foundation, VWU has transformed foundation, VWU has transformed into ainto a developmental organization, which isdevelopmental organization, which is mandated to protect women’s mandated to protect women’s legitimatelegitimate rights and strive for gender equalityrights and strive for gender equality

► Vietnam Women's Union has contributed its great efforts to the Vietnam Women's Union has contributed its great efforts to the achivementachivement of National Renovation since 1986 in the areas of socio-economicof National Renovation since 1986 in the areas of socio-economic developmentdevelopment

2.1 Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) and 2.1 Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) and ITIT

► Since the middle of 1990s, being well aware of the importance Since the middle of 1990s, being well aware of the importance of IT, VWU proposed to participate in the National IT of IT, VWU proposed to participate in the National IT Development ProgramDevelopment Program

► VWU has developed plans and orientation for IT applying and VWU has developed plans and orientation for IT applying and developing. Thereafter it was integrated into the resolution of developing. Thereafter it was integrated into the resolution of National Women’s CongressNational Women’s Congress

► Establishing the unit responsible for IT (Center for Information Establishing the unit responsible for IT (Center for Information and Documentary)and Documentary)

► Equipping the local women’s union units on all levels with IT Equipping the local women’s union units on all levels with IT devices and skillsdevices and skills

2.2.2.2. Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) and Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) and

ITIT (cont.) (cont.)► Up to the present, the number of staff equipped with Up to the present, the number of staff equipped with

computers in Central WU count for 90%, 63,33% of that computers in Central WU count for 90%, 63,33% of that at provincial level and 41,62% at district levelat provincial level and 41,62% at district level

► 38,8% of WU unit use computers for management, 38,8% of WU unit use computers for management, operation and information searchingoperation and information searching

► 89,83% of WU unit at provincial level, 71,05% of WU unit 89,83% of WU unit at provincial level, 71,05% of WU unit at district level and 10,81% of the grassroots level are at district level and 10,81% of the grassroots level are equipped with computer and Internet accessequipped with computer and Internet access

► 100% of vocational centers of the WU have trainings on 100% of vocational centers of the WU have trainings on IT for hundreds of thousand of womenIT for hundreds of thousand of women

II.II. Introduction to CWDIntroduction to CWD

► Headed by the Headed by the Vietnamese Women’s Vietnamese Women’s Union (biggest mass Union (biggest mass organization in organization in Vietnam), Founded in Vietnam), Founded in 2002, opened in 20072002, opened in 2007

www.women-bds.com Address: 20 Thuy Khue Address: 20 Thuy Khue

StreetStreet

Tay Ho, Ha Noi, VietnamTay Ho, Ha Noi, Vietnam

Activities and FunctionsActivities and FunctionsImplementation of Implementation of socio-socio-politicalpolitical activitiesactivities in the in the field of gender equality, field of gender equality, vocational training and vocational training and business development business development servicesservices Utilizing facilities for profit oriented services (hotel, restaurant, swimming pool, etc.) to cover CWD’s operational costs and socio-political activities

CWD often organize trainings for poor women, especially the minorities, on hair dressing, making – uo, tailoring, sewing, cooking, information technology

1. Cooperation between ADOC and 1. Cooperation between ADOC and CWDCWD

2. Joint Program with2. Joint Program with ADOC ADOC► Officially started Officially started

cooperation with ADOC cooperation with ADOC 2.0 since June 15the, 2.0 since June 15the, stamped with the stamped with the Opening Ceremony for Opening Ceremony for the IT Training Roomthe IT Training Room

► ADOC supported CWD ADOC supported CWD with IT equipments for with IT equipments for organizing trainings on organizing trainings on ITIT

IT Training Room Opening CeremonyIT Training Room Opening Ceremony

2. 2. Joint Program withJoint Program with ADOC ADOC (cont.)(cont.)

► Since operated, CWD have provided training classes for 60 Since operated, CWD have provided training classes for 60 learners with more than 600 learning turns on Office Skills learners with more than 600 learning turns on Office Skills (word, excel, power point, internet), Excel for Accounting, (word, excel, power point, internet), Excel for Accounting, Website DesignWebsite Design

► Trainings have been provided for clients almost of whom are Trainings have been provided for clients almost of whom are employed and would like to improve IT skills employed and would like to improve IT skills

► In the coming time, have plan to expand the trainings on In the coming time, have plan to expand the trainings on Graphics DesignGraphics Design

Excel for Accounting ClassExcel for Accounting Class

3.0 Results of the IT training course

► Number : 60 participants► Number of turn : 690 turns► Participants : students, pupils, CWD staff and the other office’s staff

The participants feel more self-confident in working with computer programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint

► The participants equipped with IT skills

► Students and pupils achieved high results in IT exams in their schools

► Office staff acquired ability to work with documents

3.0 Results of the IT training courseSeveral examples:

► Ms Nguyễn Thị Nhung: student of Hanoi Industry College

► Ms Lê Tú Mai: pupil of Chu Van An school

► They registered for extra knowledge of IT especially for school

► They got good marks for IT exam in school (Nhung 9mark, Mai 10 mark)

► Ms Trần Thị Trâm got the certificate of IT after the training course for completing the application for work and was received to be staff of one limited company ► The other participants were from companies, organizations

► They lack of IT skills in working which caused to be not appreciated for achievements in their company

► IT skills are necessary for them to make their work more convenient

III.III. Difficulties, challenges and Difficulties, challenges and recommendationsrecommendations

► Difficulties, challenges for Vietnamese Difficulties, challenges for Vietnamese women in general and for CWD in women in general and for CWD in particularparticular

► Strong gender prejudices against Strong gender prejudices against women’s role prevent women from women’s role prevent women from participating in studying, training and participating in studying, training and working in IT fieldworking in IT field

► IT policy makers still do not concern IT policy makers still do not concern gender sensitivitygender sensitivity

► Limited conditions and investment for Limited conditions and investment for equipment and facilities for IT, equipment and facilities for IT, especially in remote areas where especially in remote areas where most of Vietnamese women living.most of Vietnamese women living.► As IT possesses typical feature of dramatic development, that requires high As IT possesses typical feature of dramatic development, that requires high self – adjustment, practice and self – study for professional developmentself – adjustment, practice and self – study for professional development

► Awareness of the people on the effect of IT still limitedAwareness of the people on the effect of IT still limited► Lack of information sharing Lack of information sharing

2. Expectations and 2. Expectations and RecommendationsRecommendations

► Fourthly, government should have policies for human resources for IT in general Fourthly, government should have policies for human resources for IT in general and women labor force in IT in particular based on the occupation and women labor force in IT in particular based on the occupation characteristics as well as gender distinctiveness; developing long – term plan for characteristics as well as gender distinctiveness; developing long – term plan for training, recruiting and creating an environment for women’s development in IT training, recruiting and creating an environment for women’s development in IT field.field.

► Fifthly, developing models and services applied IT in communities, providing Fifthly, developing models and services applied IT in communities, providing good environment for women to get access and using IT.good environment for women to get access and using IT.

► Finally, developing the network, integrating gender issues into IT Forums in Finally, developing the network, integrating gender issues into IT Forums in Vietnam, region and all over the world. Vietnam, region and all over the world.

► Firstly, the Ministry for Information and Firstly, the Ministry for Information and Communication should conduct national Communication should conduct national research on the participation of the research on the participation of the women in IT field for the baseline of women in IT field for the baseline of policies making for IT development with policies making for IT development with consideration for gender sensitivity.consideration for gender sensitivity.

► Secondly, taking gender mainstreaming Secondly, taking gender mainstreaming into policies and strategies making to into policies and strategies making to ensure the equal IT access opportunities.ensure the equal IT access opportunities.

► Thirdly, mass and civil organizations Thirdly, mass and civil organizations should have programs or projects for should have programs or projects for raising women’s awareness of IT’s role raising women’s awareness of IT’s role and how to apply IT in daily life;and how to apply IT in daily life;

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!