A Network for graduates of the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration and women in the economy - collection of data on the demand of female university graduates and conception

Successful networking is crucial for career development. As has been proved, informal contacts and the participation in networks enable women to gain access to desired resources, such as information with job search, business and mentoring contacts, training and learning possibilities, exchange of experience and emotional support.

Over the past years the number of women's networks in economics, science and politics has increased continually as traditional "old boys' networks" exclude women from participation. Women experience this exclusion as significant drawback to their careers. Therefore, the women networks focus in particular on the concerns of women with respect to gender equity.

The project aims at developing scientific basics for networking strategies and forms for women in economics and science by means of quantitative and qualitative methods. Thus, it is necessary to analyse the existing empirical research on contents, practices and outcomes of networks in consideration of gender aspects. The project has to examine best practice examples and explore the benefit of networks for job-related success.

Objectives

- Analysing the demand for and the interest in networks among female graduates of the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration.
- Exploring women's expectations respectively networks.
- Identifying the characteristics of appropriate interaction and networking offers.
- Defining the standard for a network.

Research Methods

In the first step the project conducted an online survey among female graduates of the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration in order to explore their preferences and interests on a network's content, organisation, goals and rules. In the second step the project invites women to participate in group discussions to discuss results and to deepen the understanding of social exchange processes in networks.

The results provide the basis for the demand-oriented establishment of an institutionalised women's network for graduates of the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration.

Remarks

The collected data is evaluated anonymously. Personal data is not retained. The results are available to all interested parties - in particular all participants of the survey.

Project duration: February 2005 - January 2006
Project contractor: European Social Fund / Austrian Ministry for Education, Science and Culture
Project executive: Prof.ⁱⁿ Edeltraud Hanappi-Egger
Scientific collaborator: Dr.ⁱⁿ Christa Walenta