Can "Girl Power" Save Europe's IT Sector?

Much like America, Europe is faced with a bit of a crisis -- interest in IT-related jobs is waning among students. Computer and engineering majors are dwindling, placing the future of IT in jeopardy on both sides of the pond. However, the European Union's Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding has a solution: Mars -- I mean -- IT needs women!When it comes to high-profile positions in European political and business sectors, women are far and few between. The same can be said for Europe's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) area, where a women's presence on the board of directors of many leading telecoms is scarce. This is unfortunate considering the number of European female university grads has increased in recent years. Reding hopes to change that.

The first step in the commissioner's plan is to hold a conference today to discuss the issue -- a precursor to March 8th's "International Women's Day." Reding also plans to continue a program the commission started two years ago called the "Shadowing Initiative," designed to encourage, mentor, and stimulate young women's interest in future careers. Previous years have shown great success, and Reding hopes to continue the trend.

Between the conference and the initiative, the commission hopes it can combat the decline of interest in IT careers by dispelling the stereotypes that computer-related jobs are boring, geeky, and too technically challenging for women. "IT jobs can be very sexy indeed," Reding said today at the commission's briefing.

Hell, yes, IT can be sexy! Sandra Bullock in "The Net?" Hello?