Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Students’ gendered experiences of male-dominated Computing and Engineering courses

Taylor-Smith, Ella; Smith, Sally; Fabian, Khristin

Authors

Profile image of Sally Smith

Prof Sally Smith S.Smith@napier.ac.uk
Head of Graduate Apprenticeships and Skills Development and Professor



Abstract

How does it feel to be in a gender minority on a STEM programme? Does it have an impact on individual students? Via an online survey (n=255), undergraduate students on Computing and Engineering programmes were asked whether they felt that gender had an impact on their experience of their course, inviting them to ‘tell us a little more’. While most students said that their gender did not have an impact, there was a significant difference between the experience of male and female students, and examples of impact were provided in response to the open question. Tackling gender imbalance in STEM is a focus of evolving government equality policies, including encouraging girls to consider careers in Computing and Engineering and supporting women STEM students. Universities need to explore how to support potentially isolated women students who may feel encouraged by their peers to discount any perception that their experience is gendered.

Citation

Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., & Fabian, K. (2023, December). Students’ gendered experiences of male-dominated Computing and Engineering courses. Presented at 2023 SRHE International Research Conference, Birmingham, UK

Presentation Conference Type Conference Paper (Published)
Conference Name 2023 SRHE International Research Conference
Start Date Dec 6, 2023
End Date Dec 8, 2023
Acceptance Date Sep 15, 2023
Publication Date 2023
Deposit Date Oct 25, 2023
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/3222944
Publisher URL https://srhe.ac.uk/arc/23/0203.pdf