Government urged to improve gender equity in engineering and technology pathways
A new blueprint is calling for government action to help more girls and young women access engineering and technology education pathways.
Despite progress in some areas, girls and young women remain significantly underrepresented on routes leading to engineering and technology careers. In England, just 26% of those on engineering and technology education pathways by age 18 are female.
Published by EngineeringUK on behalf of the Gender Pathways collective, '40 by 40: Gender equity in engineering and technology education' sets out recommendations to increase this proportion to at least 40% by 2040.
The blueprint calls on the Department for Education to:
ensure that teaching and pedagogy support girls on STEM pathways
work with other relevant departments to ensure gender-equitable delivery of engineering and technology careers guidance, enrichment and work experience
work with other departments, including the Office for Equality and Opportunity, to foster a culture of gender equity in schools and colleges
The recommendations are based on evidence highlighting barriers that can limit girls' participation, interest and progression in subjects linked to engineering and technology careers.
Improving gender equity is also important for meeting future workforce demand. An estimated 240,000 people are needed to join the engineering and technology workforce each year until 2030, yet women currently make up only 17% of the workforce.
Dr Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive of EngineeringUK, said: "Action needs to be taken to remove the barriers that limit girls and young women from joining pathways into engineering and technology. We have identified clear actions to improve that inequity. It is time to stop talking and start delivering that policy change."
Dr Laura Norton, Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Director, says: “In publishing the 40 by 40 blueprint for action, the Gender Pathways collective makes evidenced recommendations for government, particularly the Department for Education. However, cross-departmental work is essential to achieving the change needed to address this gender disparity.
"As a collective, we have today written to the Minister for Women and Equalities and the Secretaries of State in 4 government departments including the Department for Education. We’re asking for sustained and targeted action that will ensure that girls and young women have greater opportunities to be part of the future engineering and technology workforce.”
The Gender Pathways collective brings together around 60 organisations committed to increasing the number of girls and young women progressing through engineering and technology education pathways. The collective has written to ministers across government calling for sustained action to help create more opportunities for future generations.
Action needs to be taken to remove the barriers that limit girls and young women from joining pathways into engineering and technology. We have identified clear actions to improve that inequity. It is time to stop talking and start delivering that policy change.
— Dr Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive of EngineeringUK
