About 115,000 more girls will need to be educated a levels To reach equal numbers of male and female students studying engineering and technology degrees in maths or physics, or both, a report has found.
Only 8% of first year undergraduate women who studied maths and/or physics a level went on to study engineering and technology degrees, compared with 23% of first-year undergraduate men who had studied at least one subject at A-level, an analysis by the charity EngineeringUK shows Is.
With the current conversion rate from A-level to undergraduate study, around 150,000 girls would need to study A-level in one or both subjects to reach the same number of women studying engineering and technology as men – which representing an increase of approximately 115,000 girls. , the report states.
analysis based on Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Data on UK first-year undergraduate students during the 2020/21 academic year found that only 18% of students on engineering and technology degrees were female, compared to 57% across all subjects combined.
The report – which highlights that many degrees in engineering and technology require A-levels in both maths and physics – questions whether this entry requirement needs to continue.
It is clear that if the UK fails to increase the number of women entering engineering-related careers, it will struggle to meet its huge skills shortfall.
Dr Claudia Mallidor, EngineeringUK
The analysis found that of first-year undergraduates in engineering and technology who had studied both subjects at A-level, only 22% were female.
It says: “Obviously there are some degrees where prior knowledge is required, but to address the gender imbalance on engineering and technology courses, perhaps some more thought needs to be done to make it more accessible to a wider range may be made. Applicant.”
Dr Claudia Molidore, Head of Research and Assessment at EngineeringUK, said: “The gender inequality within undergraduate degrees in engineering and technology is really concerning.
“Given that A-levels in maths and physics are often a prerequisite for such degrees, we need to do more to ensure that these subjects are attractive and accessible to girls in school. In particular Given that girls perform as well as, or outperform boys in these subjects.
He added: “It is clear that if the UK fails to increase the number of women entering engineering-related careers, it will struggle to make up for its acute skills shortage.
“The first step in tackling this is to increase girls’ interest in and engagement with science and maths in school.”