Why Join J-WIT
People Who Build Technology Should Represent The People Who Use It
Although women today comprise half the world’s population and more than half of the U.S. professional workforce, they play only a small role in inventing the technology of tomorrow. The lack of girls and women in computing and technology represents a failure to capitalize on the benefits of diverse perspectives: in a world dependent on innovation, it can bring the best and broadest problem-solvers to the table; and at a time when technology drives economic growth, it can yield a larger and more competitive workforce.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that IT will be one of the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. economy, adding nearly 1.4 million job openings by 2020. Over two-thirds of these jobs could go unfilled due to the insufficient pool of college graduates with computing-related degrees. Women represent a vastly untapped talent pool.
Groups with greater diversity solve complex problems better and faster than do homogenous groups, and the presence of women in a group is more likely to increase the collective intelligence (problem-solving ability, creativity) of the group.
Companies with the highest representation of women in their management teams have a 34% higher return on investment than did those with few or no women.
We Are a Community
NCWIT Alliance member institutions tap into a learning community infrastructure that encourages reform across the full education and career spectrum. Together, we can make more progress than if each organization acted alone.
The Academic Alliance members work towards institutional change in higher education.
The Affinity Group Alliance brings together national and local Affinity groups that provide support, networking, and professional development.
The Entrepreneurial Alliance helps young companies establish diversity at the start.
The K-12 Alliance works on the image and teaching of computing.
The Workforce Alliance leads efforts in corporate organizational reform.
The Social Science Advisory Board advises NCWIT and its members on projects and evaluation.
We Provide Evidence
NCWIT research-based resources build capacity for people to implement change, raise awareness, and reach out to critical populations. NCWIT provides a wide range of multimedia resources for reform at every level that are attractive, easy-to-use, and free.
We Take Action
NCWIT unites the computing community with an amplified voice for the increased participation of all groups. NCWITprograms and campaigns support policy reform in K-12 computing education, improve the visibility of women in computing, encourage high school girls to pursue a computing career, shine a spotlight on the successes of entrepreneurial women, and more.