Female Student Enrolments in Construction Management Programs

Abstract

This study examines the trends of female student enrolment to construction management (CM) undergraduate degree programs in New South Wales, Australia. Enrolment data from the past decade (2006–2015) were collected from three universities offering CM programs. A survey questionnaire was also conducted with current female students enrolled in CM program at one of the universities. The enrolment data shows that there is a steady increase of female student enrolments in CM programs across the three universities. The survey results show that high school counsellors, friends and peers were not significantly influential on the respondents’ decision to pursue a CM program. Parental influence was also noted, which is however not statistically significant. The survey respondents disagreed that: (i) working in the construction industry requires getting dirty; and (ii) there is no place for women in the male-dominated construction industry. Although with a perception of longer working hours in the industry that provides ample remuneration, they would like to see themselves in the industry for the next ten years. These findings have implications to CM educators in their recruitment and retention strategies towards sustainable increment of female students in CM programs.