CHALLENGES FACING FEMALE ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN AFRICA-OUR EXPERIENCE
Nana Yaa Dufie Oti-Boateng1, Korkor Daah Agyente1, Peggy Oti-Boateng2 1Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana 2Technology Consultancy Centre, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
KNUST
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Challenges Facing FES ICWES15
BACKGROUND Engineering and science are the backbone to the
industrial and socio-economic development Even though women are about 50% of the
population in Africa In Ghana less than 30% university enrollments are
female Only 1.9% of the the total number of students are
women pursuing degrees in engineering. Female engineers make up 11% of the total
number of engineers in the USA and Australia China and Russia have the highest percentages
of women engineers i.e. 40% and 58% respectively
Unfortunately no African country can boast the same
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AIMS AND OBJECTIVESo The aim of this study was to find out the
reason for low participation of females in engineering by : o conducting a baseline survey to ascertain the
challenges of female engineering students in KNUST and
o create awareness about them so as to advocate for change
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METHODOLOGY The study was conducted on the campus of
KNUST, with a population of about 26,000 as at 2010
KNUST comprises of six colleges namely: College of Engineering, College of Health Sciences, College of Science, College of Agriculture and Institute of Renewable
Natural Resources, College of Architecture and Planning and College of Art and Social Sciences.
Pre-tested Questionnaires were administered to students (50FES, 50NFES and MES&MES)
Statistics from colleges were analysed to determine trends with baseline study
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RESULTS
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ENROLMENT AT KNUSTMales and females in colleges 08/09
Gender-based enrolment into CoE over 4 years
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DEMOGRAPHY
Percentage of students living in the 10 regions of Ghana
Percentage of FES living in the various regions
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FEMALES IN VARIOUS ENGINEERING DISCIPLINES AT KNUST 05/03/2023
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ETHNICITY
Akan
Dagaab
aEw
e
Ga/Adan
gbe
Nzema
Yorub
aBa
sare
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
No. o
f stu
dent
s (%
)
Percentages of ethnic groups students come from
Percentages of Ethnic groups FES come from
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PERCEPTIONS OF FES 05/03/2023
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OUTLOOK ON ENGINEERING
Percentages of recommendations
Percentages of how much FES enjoy engineering
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EXPERIENCES OF FES
Best Experience of FES
Worst experiences of FES
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ADVISORS OF FES TO PURSUE ENGINEERING 05/03/2023
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CONCLUSION Engineering curriculum needs revamping to
make it more interesting, relevant, engendered, interactive and more practical
General education of the public on engineering and its importance with emphasis on female engineers and their contributions should be done
Scholarships should also be instituted to cater for the needs of needy but brilliant girls whose dreams are to become engineers.
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THANK YOU
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