Equity in Bytes: An In-Depth Analysis of Gender Disparities in the ICT Sector Across Albania and Western Balkans Countries - Insights, Challenges, and Strategies for Promoting Inclusion and Empowerment

Gender inequality is a prevalent problem encountered by industrialized and developing nations around the globe. It is imperative for governments, organizations, and individuals to actively promote equality between genders and provide women with the necessary resources and opportunities to actualize their capabilities to address and rectify gender disparities fully. Many individuals accept that innovation is a male-ruled field, which deters women from chasing after professions in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) area. This article addresses the student gender imbalance in choosing ICT courses in Albania and the wider Western Balkans region. The issue at hand is the low presence of women in this rapidly expanding sector, impeding economic capacity and societal advancement. The objective of this study is to identify and understand the factors that are influencing this disparity between genders. The study is focused on analysing the number of registered students in bachelor's and master's courses in computer science in different public and private universities. We use a mixed-methods methodology by analysing university registration information from the past five academic years (2018-2023) and a structured survey of 10 questions. The data is gathered from academic institutions in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, offering a thorough picture of gender representation in computer science. The paper provides valuable perspectives on the obstacles encountered by women, examines the cultural and sociological elements that contribute to gender disparity, and suggests methods to promote inclusion and empower women in the ICT sector.