Diversity and Inclusion Working Group
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Diversity and Inclusion Working Group

Motivation

Each society is constituted by individuals that, by definition, are diverse one from the other. Diversity within any group or society is a winning factor as it implies the presence of different viewpoints and ideas that can significantly empower the group, which will be able to produce effective results thanks to such diversity. The main challenge is that diversity, in all its aspects, needs to be actively understood, respected, and preserved. In particular, diversity in race, gender, age, socio-economic status, religion, and physical abilities determine differences in behavior, ways of learning, as well as specific needs and constraints. Each group participant should be able to cope with these differences and act in a positive way in response to these.

In this context, Informatics Europe can operate at least at two levels.

  • On the one side, we, as the Informatics community, need to ensure that software systems behave respecting diversity. This is particularly critical when considering machine learning algorithms that require training on data based on human characteristics or behavior, but also when designing the UI of software systems.
  • On the other side, we, as a community of educators in Europe, should focus on how to take into account of diversity in the education process. While the European Commission is actively promoting the importance of ensuring gender equality, the broader area of diversity should be put under the lens as well. Proposals for the definition of best practices for education that take diversity into account in the admission, learning, and examination process could be analysed and disseminated through the various departments.

Long-term Goals

  • Empower Informatics Europe members. to ensure the diversity dimension is considered in their education process. 
  • Contribute to designing software systems that behave respecting diversity.
  • Defining best practices to cope with diversity through inclusion in Informatics.

WG Operation

  • Chair: Simona Motogna, Babeş-Bolyai University, Romania.
  • Secretary: Claire Matti, Haute école pédagogique du canton de Vaud, Switzerland.
  • Monthly online meetings on every third Wednesday
    (usually from 14:00 CET/CEST, exact time is confirmed by the Chair via email)

Current  Activities

At present the working group is focused on collecting European initiatives on diversity and inclusion in Informatics Research and Education and building a network of interested parties. The following activities related to this goals:

Activity 1: Mapping of current initiatives 

Map current initiatives, research projects, and tools to cope with diversity and promote inclusion.

Steps:

  • Finalization of the survey to be used for mapping - completed
  • Dissemination of the survey - completed
  • Collection and analysis of results - completed, results available here
  • Analysis of literature - in progress
  • Preparation of a mapping paper.

Activity 2: Best Practices booklet 

Develop a booklet about best practices in one of the areas that will be identified with the mapping study.

Steps:

  • Definition of the booklet focus, including best practices coming from the Minerva Award - completed
  • Preparation and review of the first draft - completed
  • Finalization and release of the booklet- in progress

Activity 3: Repository creation 

Create a repository of initiatives, research projects, and tools in Europe - waiting for responses and volunteers to contribute

Steps:

  • Consolidation of the repository structure and rules for contribution.
  • Dissemination of the repository to solicit contributions.
  • Management of the incoming contributions.

Get Involved! 

Would you like to join us in our current diversity initiatives or suggest a new task force to promote and enrich diversity in informatics? Join our Working Group here.

Visit our Diversity and Inclusion webpage to know more about initiatives and outcomes on the topic by the Informatics Europe community. 

  • Current members:

    • ECSS 2025: Diversity and Inclusion Workshop
      Read More
      Date: October 2025 
      Details: Workshop description and presentation slides from the ECSS 2025 workshop, held in Rennes on 29 October 2025.

    • Minerva Informatics Equality Award Catalogue 
      Download
      Date: October 2025 
      Details: The Catalogue brings together a decade of best practices submitted to the Minerva Informatics Equality Award and celebrates European initiatives that advance gender equality in Informatics research and education. It classifies and analyses actions that support women at all career stages - from students to senior academics - offering searchable examples, tags, and impact indicators.

    • Online event: "United for Impact: Women in Informatics" 
      Date: March 2025
      Details: A special online event dedicated to celebrating and advancing the role of women in Informatics. 
      Featured Speakers:
      - Prof. Letizia Jaccheri – ACM Distinguished Speaker, EUGAIN Action Chair
      - Prof. Ana Lucia Varbanescu – ICT-Research Platform Netherlands (IPN) Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
      - Prof. Mathew Barr – Ada Scotland
      - Prof. Maria Pia Giovannini – CDIT Roma, Italy.

    • ECSS 2024: "Cultivating Diversity: Integrating Inclusive Design into Informatics Education" Workshop
      Read More
      Date: October 2024
      Details: Workshop description and presentation slides from the ECSS 2024 workshop, organized jointly with Ethics WG, held in Malta on 29 October 2024. 

    • Survey About Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report
      Download
      Date: April 2024
      Details: The report resulted from a mapping study conducted from December 2022 to assess ongoing diversity initiatives and collect information from university departments developing such projects. The report summarizes findings from 33 initiatives captured during this period.