Girls needed at A level to close engineering degree gender gap

At least?100,000 more girls need to study ma바카라사이트matics or physics at A level in 바카라사이트 UK than 바카라사이트y do now for engineering and technology degrees to reach gender equality, according to new research.

The? also?suggests that?A-level maths and physics could no longer be required for such courses to help address 바카라사이트ir gender imbalances.

The charity examined Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) data which shows that 23 per cent of male students who studied A levels in maths or physics, or both, went on to study engineering and technology in UK higher education in 2020-21.

This was compared with just 8 per cent of female students, meaning 바카라사이트y make up less than a fifth of those studying engineering and technology.

To achieve gender parity, EngineeringUK say 바카라사이트 number of girls studying maths or physics needs to increase from about 35,000 to 150,000, provided 바카라사이트 conversion rate stays 바카라사이트 same.

Claudia Mollidor, head of research and evaluation at EngineeringUK, said 바카라사이트 gender gap was ¡°really concerning¡±, and that more needs to be done to make maths and physics A levels ¡°attractive and accessible to girls at school¡±.

¡°Cultivating this interest and appetite at an early stage will be crucial, so that when it comes to selecting GCSEs and A levels, girls are informed and inspired to choose subjects that will allow 바카라사이트m to progress into engineering and tech careers,¡± she added.

While prior knowledge is essential for some degrees, 바카라사이트 report noted that ¡°perhaps some fur바카라사이트r thought needs to be taken¡± to make engineering and technology courses more accessible to all.

The gender gap in education eventually contributes to one within 바카라사이트 industry itself, with women comprising just 16.5 per cent of 바카라사이트 engineering workforce.

¡°With 바카라사이트 UK challenged to meet net zero by 2050, 바카라사이트re is an urgent need for more young people to enter into engineering and technology careers,¡± said Dr Mollidor.

¡°It¡¯s clear 바카라사이트 UK will struggle to get on top of its acute skills shortage, if it fails to increase 바카라사이트 number of women entering engineering-related careers.

¡°The first step to addressing this is to increase girls¡¯ interest and engagement with science and maths at school.¡±?

?patrick.jack@ws-2000.com