Upper secondary school students’ gendered interests in electronics and electrical engineering

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Engineering societies call for more gender diversity, but especially girls’ interest in engineering remains low. Basic Electronics is a bachelor-level study module, offered to upper secondary school students to attract them to study electrical engineering. Recently, on average, 34% of the upper secondary school students attending the module have been girls, yet only 13% of the new electrical engineering students are female. Purpose The objective of this study is to understand what kinds of upper secondary school students have interest in STEM in general and electronics in particular but are not considering electrical engineering as a future career. Sample and design A questionnaire was administered to participants (age 17–18) in the Basic Electronics module in years 2017–2020 (N = 119), and the data were statistically analyzed. Results/Conclusion Both genders seem to be interested on the practical and hands-on aspects of technology. Yet, boys are much more likely to consider studies in electrical engineering than girls. Boys receive more encouragement and guidance to act with technology both from home and from school. They also have more often technology-related hobbies. Hence, the current image of electrical engineering and other societal factors appear to be more likely to attract boys than girls to the field even among the adolescents with high general interest in STEM subjects.