Abstract:
Contribution: Stereotypes and immediate environment are the reasons for low enrollment of women in STEM studies. Background: The low number of women in STEM degree course...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
Contribution: Stereotypes and immediate environment are the reasons for low enrollment of women in STEM studies. Background: The low number of women in STEM degree courses has been the subject of much research, which has found that the lack of female enrollment is not evenly distributed across all STEM studies. In some areas, such as computing, communications, and electrical and electronic engineering (CCEEE), not only has the number of women not increased, it has even fallen. Research Questions: Is there a stereotype for women taking STEM studies? Is this stereotype different between women taking CCEEE and non-CCEEE degrees? What are the main reasons that lead women to enroll in STEM studies? Methodology: A survey was sent to 3699 female students and STEM graduates belonging to the authors' university in six schools with a lowest level of enrollment, and 1060 replies were received. A qualitative study based on data analysis triangulation was performed. Findings: The women surveyed consider social stereotypes (31.47%) and the immediate environment (14.5%) as the main reasons for the low enrollment of women in STEM studies. Surprisingly, the third reason (11.03%) is that women do not like engineering. New knowledge concerning what motivates female students to enroll in STEM studies, what stereotypes they must struggle against, and the existence of possible differences between CCEEE and STEM but non-CCEEE female students could help policy makers and academia to improve female enrollment in STEM and, in particular, in CCEEE studies.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Education ( Volume: 61, Issue: 4, November 2018)
Funding Agency:
Graphic Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Barcelona, Spain
Noelia Olmedo-Torre received the degree in telecommunications engineering and the Ph.D. degree in multimedia engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), in 1991 and 2007, respectively. She is a Professor with the Department of Engineering Presentation, Barcelona East School of Engineering (formerly, the EUETIB). Her research interests are the social aspects of engineering education, innovati...Show More
Noelia Olmedo-Torre received the degree in telecommunications engineering and the Ph.D. degree in multimedia engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), in 1991 and 2007, respectively. She is a Professor with the Department of Engineering Presentation, Barcelona East School of Engineering (formerly, the EUETIB). Her research interests are the social aspects of engineering education, innovati...View more
Computer Architecture Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Barcelona, Spain
Fermín Sánchez Carracedo was born in Barcelona, in 1962. He received the master’s degree in industrial electronics from the E.A. SEAT, in 1981, and the B.S. degree in computer science and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), in 1987 and 1996, respectively. Since 1987, he has been a Lecturer with the Department of Computer Architecture, UPC-BarcelonaTech, w...Show More
Fermín Sánchez Carracedo was born in Barcelona, in 1962. He received the master’s degree in industrial electronics from the E.A. SEAT, in 1981, and the B.S. degree in computer science and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), in 1987 and 1996, respectively. Since 1987, he has been a Lecturer with the Department of Computer Architecture, UPC-BarcelonaTech, w...View more
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Terrassa, Spain
M. Núria Salán Ballesteros received the metallurgical (chemistry) degree and the Ph.D. degree in materials science and metallurgical engineering from UPC-BarcelonaTech. She has been a Professor with the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering since 1992. She has taught several degree and master subjects at the School of Industrial and Aeronautic Engineering of Terrassa. She is also leading a girls’ m...Show More
M. Núria Salán Ballesteros received the metallurgical (chemistry) degree and the Ph.D. degree in materials science and metallurgical engineering from UPC-BarcelonaTech. She has been a Professor with the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering since 1992. She has taught several degree and master subjects at the School of Industrial and Aeronautic Engineering of Terrassa. She is also leading a girls’ m...View more
Computer Architecture Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Barcelona, Spain
David López was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1967. He received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in computer sciences from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Spain, in 1991 and 1998, respectively, and the M.A. degree in Asian studies with a major in East Asia arts and societies from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, in 2008.
David López was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1967. He received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in computer sciences from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Spain, in 1991 and 1998, respectively, and the M.A. degree in Asian studies with a major in East Asia arts and societies from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, in 2008.View more
Education Sciences Institute, School of Engineering Barcelona East, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Barcelona, Spain
Antoni Perez-Poch is the Deputy Director with the Education Sciences Institute, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), and a Lecturer of Computer Science and Telecommunications with the School of Engineering Barcelona East. He is also the Director of the STEM Master Program, a postgraduate degree from the Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya that provides competence-based teaching training to lecturers at ...Show More
Antoni Perez-Poch is the Deputy Director with the Education Sciences Institute, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), and a Lecturer of Computer Science and Telecommunications with the School of Engineering Barcelona East. He is also the Director of the STEM Master Program, a postgraduate degree from the Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya that provides competence-based teaching training to lecturers at ...View more
Education Sciences Institute, School of Engineering Barcelona East, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Barcelona, Spain
Mireia López-Beltrán received the degree in mathematics from the Universitat de Barcelona, in 2002, and the Ph.D. degree in didactics of mathematics and experimental sciences from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, in 2010. She has been a Secondary Teacher since 2002. Since 2013, she has been with the ICE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, in the area of secondary teacher training.
Mireia López-Beltrán received the degree in mathematics from the Universitat de Barcelona, in 2002, and the Ph.D. degree in didactics of mathematics and experimental sciences from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, in 2010. She has been a Secondary Teacher since 2002. Since 2013, she has been with the ICE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, in the area of secondary teacher training.View more
Graphic Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Barcelona, Spain
Noelia Olmedo-Torre received the degree in telecommunications engineering and the Ph.D. degree in multimedia engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), in 1991 and 2007, respectively. She is a Professor with the Department of Engineering Presentation, Barcelona East School of Engineering (formerly, the EUETIB). Her research interests are the social aspects of engineering education, innovation in higher education, professional competencies, assessment tools, the promotion of teaching and learning improvement and, in general, educational innovation that contributes to teaching quality.
Noelia Olmedo-Torre received the degree in telecommunications engineering and the Ph.D. degree in multimedia engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), in 1991 and 2007, respectively. She is a Professor with the Department of Engineering Presentation, Barcelona East School of Engineering (formerly, the EUETIB). Her research interests are the social aspects of engineering education, innovation in higher education, professional competencies, assessment tools, the promotion of teaching and learning improvement and, in general, educational innovation that contributes to teaching quality.View more
Computer Architecture Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Barcelona, Spain
Fermín Sánchez Carracedo was born in Barcelona, in 1962. He received the master’s degree in industrial electronics from the E.A. SEAT, in 1981, and the B.S. degree in computer science and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), in 1987 and 1996, respectively. Since 1987, he has been a Lecturer with the Department of Computer Architecture, UPC-BarcelonaTech, where he has been an Associate Professor since 1997. His fields of study include computer architecture, innovation in education, and education for sustainability.
Fermín Sánchez Carracedo was born in Barcelona, in 1962. He received the master’s degree in industrial electronics from the E.A. SEAT, in 1981, and the B.S. degree in computer science and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), in 1987 and 1996, respectively. Since 1987, he has been a Lecturer with the Department of Computer Architecture, UPC-BarcelonaTech, where he has been an Associate Professor since 1997. His fields of study include computer architecture, innovation in education, and education for sustainability.View more
Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Terrassa, Spain
M. Núria Salán Ballesteros received the metallurgical (chemistry) degree and the Ph.D. degree in materials science and metallurgical engineering from UPC-BarcelonaTech. She has been a Professor with the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering since 1992. She has taught several degree and master subjects at the School of Industrial and Aeronautic Engineering of Terrassa. She is also leading a girls’ mentoring program (M2m) as a pioneer experience in TECH universities, and she has organized an international traveling exhibition about the invisibility of women’s tech [“(In)Visible ingenuity”].
M. Núria Salán Ballesteros received the metallurgical (chemistry) degree and the Ph.D. degree in materials science and metallurgical engineering from UPC-BarcelonaTech. She has been a Professor with the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering since 1992. She has taught several degree and master subjects at the School of Industrial and Aeronautic Engineering of Terrassa. She is also leading a girls’ mentoring program (M2m) as a pioneer experience in TECH universities, and she has organized an international traveling exhibition about the invisibility of women’s tech [“(In)Visible ingenuity”].View more
Computer Architecture Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Barcelona, Spain
David López was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1967. He received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in computer sciences from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Spain, in 1991 and 1998, respectively, and the M.A. degree in Asian studies with a major in East Asia arts and societies from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, in 2008.
David López was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1967. He received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in computer sciences from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Spain, in 1991 and 1998, respectively, and the M.A. degree in Asian studies with a major in East Asia arts and societies from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, in 2008.View more
Education Sciences Institute, School of Engineering Barcelona East, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Barcelona, Spain
Antoni Perez-Poch is the Deputy Director with the Education Sciences Institute, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), and a Lecturer of Computer Science and Telecommunications with the School of Engineering Barcelona East. He is also the Director of the STEM Master Program, a postgraduate degree from the Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya that provides competence-based teaching training to lecturers at UPC-BarcelonaTech.
Antoni Perez-Poch is the Deputy Director with the Education Sciences Institute, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), and a Lecturer of Computer Science and Telecommunications with the School of Engineering Barcelona East. He is also the Director of the STEM Master Program, a postgraduate degree from the Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya that provides competence-based teaching training to lecturers at UPC-BarcelonaTech.View more
Education Sciences Institute, School of Engineering Barcelona East, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BarcelonaTech), Barcelona, Spain
Mireia López-Beltrán received the degree in mathematics from the Universitat de Barcelona, in 2002, and the Ph.D. degree in didactics of mathematics and experimental sciences from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, in 2010. She has been a Secondary Teacher since 2002. Since 2013, she has been with the ICE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, in the area of secondary teacher training.
Mireia López-Beltrán received the degree in mathematics from the Universitat de Barcelona, in 2002, and the Ph.D. degree in didactics of mathematics and experimental sciences from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, in 2010. She has been a Secondary Teacher since 2002. Since 2013, she has been with the ICE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, in the area of secondary teacher training.View more