A New Approach to Increasing Diversity in Engineering at the Example of Women in Engineering

Autor/in	Schafer, Andrea I.
Titel	A New Approach to Increasing Diversity in Engineering at the Example of Women in Engineering
Quelle	In: European Journal of Engineering Education, 31 (2006) 6, S.661-671 (11 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0304-3797
Schlagwörter	Feedback (Response); Engineering Education; Females; Foreign Countries; Work Environment; Student Diversity; Consciousness Raising; Lecture Method; Student Recruitment; Australia + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ingenieurausbildung; Weibliches Geschlecht; Ausland; Arbeitsmilieu; Bewusstseinsbildung; Australien
Abstract	A new initiative to incorporate diversity issues into the common engineering curriculum at the University of Wollongong (UoW) in Australia is outlined and the effect on student awareness quantified. The diversity issues were illustrated in the example of women in engineering, seeing that the numbers of women in engineering have dropped drastically over the last five years at UoW. However, the methodology applied can be adjusted to any diversity group to suit the needs of the institution performing the activity. The method is based on the hypothesis that raising awareness and understanding across the entire student body will be a first step to change. The approach is different to the traditional recruitment and marketing approach of convincing women to try engineering with little follow up support and subsequently often low retention. The initiative involves a diversity lecture delivered to all fourth year engineering students as part of a compulsory management subject. It is anticipated that with the current approach all students are made aware of the problems that women expect to face in the engineering profession. This awareness is hoped to bring about some of the required change in culture and prepare women to draw on available support. The strategy does not exclude men, but includes them as instruments for positive change through an understanding of the benefits of a gender-balanced and diverse work environment on everyone. The initiative is popular with students who through their feedback are requesting more such activities, in particular in early years of engineering education. (Contains 3 figures and 2 tables.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10