WomEqual

Materials

Here you can find the WomEqual mentoring guide (pdf). It shortly describes the principles of the pair and group mentoring organised in the WomEqual mentoring programme.

What is WomEqual?

WomEqual is a Finnish nationwide development project, which aims at supporting the career development, innovative abilities, and entrepreneurship of highly educated women in the field of technology. In the project specific operation models supporting these aims are developed. WomEqual is implemented in all Finnish universities of technology (Helsinki, Tampere and Lappeenranta), and in University of Oulu, which has a big faculty of technology. This webpage concentrates on the subproject implemented in University of Oulu. The whole project is presented in more detail at www.weme.fi.

The WomEqual project is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), the Finnish Ministry of Education, and municipalities. The project works in cooperation with several international partners.

Why is WomEqual needed?

Despite the relatively generous benefits the Finnish welfare state provides for working women, many obstacles still exist preventing the career development of highly educated women in the fields of technology. These obstacles are both structural and present in the prevailing attitudes. For example, personal business networks are crucial considering one's good career development, but in Finland these networks are highly segregated according to the gender. This has a strong impact on women's possibilities in the working life.

Therefore, in WomEqual a network of professional women - with higher educational background, working in the field of technology - will be created and introduced to support the aims mentioned above. The network activities will combine not only the traditional male and female strengths, but also female interest in co-operation and social networks, with the support of the technology based solutions. This network will also provide positive role models for female students in the field of technology, as well as for high school girls making their future career choices.

WomEqual subproject at the University of Oulu

One of the WomEqual subprojects is implemented in the University of Oulu, faculty of technology. The aim of the subproject is to create continuous and active networks for the academic women, operating in fields of technology. The networks will include women students, employed and unemployed women, and women currently on maternity or other parental leave. The network building is going to be supported by various mentoring models integrated in the alumni activities; a mentoring programme is created. Besides network building, mentoring supports women working on technological fields, and offers role models and guidance for university students and girls in secondary education.

There are basically three ways for women engineers to take part in the mentoring programme at the University of Oulu. First, a personal mentor can be searched for a woman requiring detailed guidance related to occupational issues. The need for mentoring can be triggered by a recent change in one's career; by promotion, new tasks and responsibilities in the current position, maternity leave or unemployment, for example. Second option is to find an own mentor for a small group of women who have similar needs for mentoring. Group mentoring normally involves 2-4 mentees and a mentor. Third way to participate the mentoring programme is to take part in peer support groups which are bigger and more unofficial than the mentoring groups. Also networking events will be organised.

For more information on the other subprojects implemented in different universities, check www.weme.fi.

For whom is WomEqual for?

Female students, graduates, researchers, professionals, potential entrepreneurs and innovators in the field of technology, and men interested in promoting women's career development. If you are a woman highly educated in the field of technology, and moved from abroad to the Oulu region or Northern Finland, you're the most welcome to network trough WomEqual activities!

Contact

If you became interested in WomEqual or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the University of Oulu, department of electrical and information engineering.