18.12.2017
- The specific objective of the project is to encourage young women who are about to complete their university study programmes to opt for STEM careers
- HT is one of the leading companies both at the local and at the European level in terms of the share of women in management positions and gender equality in the context of salaries
Upon the initiative of Hrvatski Telekom, Croatia has become involved in a large international project "Women STEM Awards", whose specific objective is to encourage young women to opt for careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. It is an international competition that will select the best graduate or master's thesis or dissertation in STEM fields amongst all the theses submitted by students who are about to complete their university study programmes throughout the world.
"Women STEM Awards" project is a well-established project by Deutsche Telekom that is being implemented for the fifth consecutive year. Strategic topics of the competition are carefully selected on an annualised level in order to keep abreast with the latest technological trends in STEM fields. This year, the topics include: Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, and Networks of the Future.
According to the evaluation by the Expert Panel, which comprises of Deutsche Telekom experts, the academic community, and other prominent experts, the best thesis will be awarded prize money of €3,000, whilst the best and the most innovative thesis in each of the categories will be awarded €500. The competition will be open by 25 February 2018.
"Hrvatski Telekom is the first company to have launched an initiative to popularise STEM fields in Croatia. We are striving to provide a role model and encourage the greatest possible number of women to opt for these extremely in-demand and well-paid jobs. Hence, we are hereby inviting all the students who are about to complete their university study programmes at STEM faculties to apply for "Woman STEM Awards" and become involved in this international project that can ensure an excellent initial position for a STEM career", stated Marija Felkel, Member of the Management Board and Chief Human Resources Officer in HT.
Starting their professional life in a STEM career will provide young women experts with a wide range of opportunities for development and career advancement during the forthcoming period. STEM skills are the cornerstone of progress in the digital economy, whose growth is sevenfold compared to the classical economy.
Through its involvement in “Women STEM Awards”, HT is aiming to encourage women to become more involved in and to opt for well-paid professional jobs, as well as to channel their career development in the direction of management positions. HT is one of the leading companies both at the local and at the European level in terms of the share of women in management positions. 45% of women in Hrvatski Telekom are in management positions, which exceeds the overall share of women in the number of employees. This significantly exceeds the average of 35% of women in management positions at the European Union level (according to the latest EUROSTAT data), and it also significantly exceeds the share of women managers in the telecommunications industry. Moreover, women in management positions in HT are on a par with their male colleagues concerning the material aspect. Consequently, HT significantly exceeds the average both in Croatia and at the European Union level, since, according to the latest statistics, women in managerial positions in Croatia earn 17% less than their male colleagues. It is important to point out the fact that the EU average shows an even worse state of affairs, since women at the EU level earn 23.4% less than men.
One of the key factors for attracting and retaining such a high number of women managers and women in general, primarily in the dynamic telecommunications industry, is the balance between the professional and private life. Development of a healthy organisational culture and introduction of the programmes intended to enable a well-balanced life and connecting and balancing career and family are important prerequisites for the satisfaction of our employees.
Christmas for the kids, A Day with Mom and Dad at Work, Friday in Slippers, a day off for parents on their kid's first day of elementary school are only a few of the most popular programmes intended to create a pleasant work environment.