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Are female IT graduates still underrepresented?

27/07/2010 Are female IT graduates still underrepresented? New figures suggest that despite encouragement, there is still a poor headcount in women taking degrees in typically male-dominated subjects.

Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency and compiled by the Guardian have shown that in ten years there has been no increase in the number of women taking up mathematical sciences.

Indeed, the figure has stayed at a constant 38 per cent.

In engineering and technology degrees, women still account for just 15 per cent of the student population. But perhaps most worryingly, the number of women studying computer science has actually fallen in the past five years, from 24 per cent to 19 per cent.

This could come as a matter of concern to many people who tirelessly appeal for the equality of women in these industries.

Peter Hicks, from the Institution of Engineering and Technology, told the newspaper: "We need to be very worried that ... these figures are low and not getting any better.

"In my 40 years of teaching electrical engineering at Manchester University women never made up more than five per cent of my classes. The UK desperately needs engineers – we can't afford to lose what is effectively half of its talent."

However, this week the Royal Society highlighted its concern that the UK's economy could be affected by a lack of people going into the science and technology profession.

One reason for the poor student numbers, it claimed, was a lack of science teachers in early schooling.

Libby Steele, head of education at the Royal Society, said: "We're living in a technological, scientific world and it is only going to become even more so.

"Things that need to be solved are only going to be solved by good mathematical knowledge and by good technological knowledge."

Mr Hicks took a similar view, suggesting that while careers advice services in schools could have a role to play in encouraging girls to choose this path, primary schools also have a responsibility.

He suggested that there are not enough female role models teaching science in primary schools.

Higher education action group Universities UK said that institutions are working to bridge the gender gap, encouraging more women to take science-based subjects and in turn encouraging men to take typically female-dominated subjects such as medicine and education.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the group, told the newspaper that more women are in science industries in the UK than in many European countries.

"This can largely be attributed to the work universities have done with schools to encourage participation in these subjects," she explained.


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