Advancing Women in Engineering : Deciphering Key Factors in Training, Retention and Support

The percentage of women applying for engineering licensure remains well below the percentage of women enrolling in engineering undergraduate programs--an issue of retention that continues throughout women engineers' career trajectories.

The percentage of women applying for engineering licensure remains well below the percentage of women enrolling in engineering undergraduate programs--an issue of retention that continues throughout women engineers' career trajectories. Although there have been many efforts on the recruitment side to attract people of varying genders to study engineering and join the profession, such efforts are ineffective if this diverse population is not retained in engineering. This book identifies the factors affecting the recruitment of women into, and the retention of women in the engineering profession. The authors examine the experience of male and female students at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels to better understand women's experiences at each stage in their careers through to becoming industry members or academics. Issues such as intimidation and discouragement at the undergraduate level, disproportionate funding and support at a graduate student level, and the correlation between retention and opportunities for collaboration at an industry/academic level are discussed. The book concludes by highlighting the key findings affecting the retention of women in engineering and offers potential solutions. The findings covered in this book may be used by engineering postsecondary institutions and workplaces to create a more diverse and inclusive environment. This book is also useful to researchers, scholars, students, and academics interested in the retention of women in STEM industries.