women in engineering

Importance of education in life of a human being is same as food and other necessities of life. No doubt Pakistan is far behind most of the nations in this area but progress is still under the way and its one of the reasons of continuous progress of Pakistan. In Past education in women was not considered as important as for men but these days it is one of the most important thing and it is a necessity of life for most of the population of Pakistan. Facts and figures show a very positive result regarding this field and the encouragement Pakistan has gained is quite good.

Engineering allows both genders to work in the field and to study without any discrimination rather it promotes the every single individual which is capable of doing work to its benefit. There is no need of a person who is not talented enough but is a male rather a female is considered worthy with ability and talent as she can work and benefit the field. People who are masters to their craft are welcomed to this field and encouraged at workplace.

The purpose of this study was to show how women in engineering are producing equal and in some places better results than most of the male members and how engineering encourages both genders equally. This study was conducted by the help of previous studies and reports by HEC and many credible authors working in this field. A number of websites and blogs were studied to formulate this study and to help finalize this report within 8 weeks.

In most of areas of Pakistan gender disparity was an issue in past and women were not given enrollment but it is seen through studies that this is now changed and access for education is now better in Pakistan. GPI for Pakistan has been continuously seen increasing, not at a large rate but at an appreciable rate.

Recommendations were made on the basis of the reports and studies in consideration to the study of the report.

INTRODUCTION

“What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child,

that must the community want for all its children.”

(John Dewey)

Education is one of the major indicators of development of a nation socially and economically and it provides skilled human resource to the society. It is no doubt one of the major factors of the progress and prosperity of a country. Education brings people to a platform where they can find, enhance and show their abilities and expertise while helping the state to grow in the meantime. Education helps people grow mentally, socially, economically and physically. It helps people overcome their weaknesses and make them their strength. “Education, and specifically higher education, has characteristics of being consumption good and an investment good” (Ramsey, 2012).

Education has always been important to every single nation since the beginning but the preference of education for male and female have not been the same in every region of the world. Gender discrimination has always been a major hurdle in education for female students. Gender equity has always been a topic of discussion among various faces of nations but this problem has never been truly resolved. Leaders of nation should provide equal access and representation to both male and female students. “Women who are empowered, and able to realize their full potential, are an incredible force in taking whole nation forward, and in contributing to their well-being.” (Finnish minister for international development Pekka Havisto).

All of fields of education which are divided in two sections based on the preferences of male and female students and nowadays they are categorized as male education fields and female education fields like nursing is considered mainly for female students to choose from and computer sciences as male students preferred field. Engineering is one which has not been classified rather it has equal attraction for male and female students in higher education fields. Engineering provides equal access and representation to both genders and is considered a perfect platform to harmonize students while not keeping in consideration their identity.

This section includes the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of study and the scope of study.

Background

Gender discrimination among female students in various fields of education effects the enrollment of female students in tertiary education institution. Many fields of education like medical allows women choose whether they want to be a doctor or a nurse and same case with other fields while engineering provides a platform to students where neither men nor women are encouraged more than the other.

Statement of the problem

The focus of this study was to provide a brief description of (1) how engineering encourages both genders equally and (2) how this platform is one of main attractions for students nowadays especially for women.

Objectives of study

The main purpose of this study is to provide a brief description and assessment of current situation of tertiary education in Pakistan while focusing mainly on engineering and the gender discrimination influencing enrollments in universities and how engineering helps minimizing gender discrimination and harmonizing students irrespective of their identity.

Scope

The scope of this study includes analysis of enrollments in tertiary education institutions, degree awarding among male and female students, scholarships being provided to students and result comparison of both male and female students. Study was limited to Pakistan only.

METHODOLOGY

This study was done in a given time period of 3 weeks only. It consists of four phases:

Phase 1: Literature review and report analysis

In it we reviewed access and equity of higher education in Pakistan including FATA and North-Western areas of Pakistan to consolidate the education among both genders and further to provide a theoretical framework of the work in progress.

Phase 2: Collection and study of previous studies and reports

In this phase we collected reports and previous researches. Various reports and researches were collected using Internet search engines

· Education for All 2015, National Review, World Education Forum, UNESCO

· Pakistan Education Statistics 2014-15, NEMIS, Academy of Educational Planning and

· Management

· Annual Report Higher Education Commission, 2011-12,

· Annual Report Higher Education Commission, July 2016, Study(9) Excess and equity

· African American Female Engineering Students Persistence in Ster

· women-in-engineering-statistics-march2016

Phase 3: Collection of data

In this phase primary data was collected through Higher Education Commission official site and the statistics provided by the provided for education among both genders. UNESCO reports for education among women and enrollment of women in engineering. Engineering a while ago with a fewer number of women in workplace compared to present day with appreciable number of women in workplace.

Phase 4: Data analysis and report writing

Data from reports, blogs and websites were analyzed and tabulated and a set of recommendations was drafted on the basis of these data analysis.

ENGINEERING PROMOTES GENDER EQUALITY

Engineering in Pakistan is one of the most chosen professions in field of study and is considered as one of the most rewarding professions. In Pakistan equity and equal access to both genders is being promoted for the past couple of years and significant progress can be seen related to this field.

It has been observed for the past couple of years that more women in science has improved the outcomes of researches including better and more ideas. Women now make up half the national workforce, earn more college and graduate degrees than men, and by some estimates represent the largest single economic force in the world. Yet the gender gap in science persists, to a greater degree than in other professions, particularly in high-end, math-intensive fields such as computer science and engineering.

Women in STEM occupations

According to U.S. census bureau statistics, women in STEM fields occupy 7% of the workforce by 1970 which increased up to 23% by 1990 and after that in remained constant for the next 2 decades till 2011 which got an increase of 3% to 26% workforce at the end of year.

"I don't know any institution today that is not trying to hire more women scientists and engineers," says a science historian. But many cultural and political forces have stood in the way of women empowerment and enrollment since the very beginning and gender bias has been a major hurdle in the way, sexual harassment and abuse has lead to lesser and lesser women in workforce.

There has been a significant increase in women working in sciences but yet not enough to fully empower women in field of science and engineering. More women in workforce have resulted in a huge increase in the outcomes. Engineering has always been considered as male dominant field but in recent years mentality has changed and this concept is now only in books for most of the places in world but still work has to be done related to this field.

There aren't a lot of women in engineering either (though the numbers vary by sub discipline, with electrical and mechanical engineering reflecting few women and civil, biological, and chemical engineering showing more). Women received 45 percent of all math- and science-related doctoral degrees in 2012; only 22 percent were in engineering.

History of women and science

In past, tests and researches were conducted only on men and cure for the diseases was also made for men and women suffering from the same disease could not get proper medical treatment because of such mentality. For generations, the model used in biomedical research to design drugs and products for everyone has been predicated on the physiology of an average-size male, historically the standard reference figure in Gray's Anatomy, the medical textbook first published in the 1850s. . Heart diseases and many deadly diseases would treat men and could not cure women as genetics of both genders are not made same and this was also a huge drawback for women in workforce. In recent past this problem is solved as women are now working in many scientific laboratories and working for themselves.

"Harness the creative power of sex and gender analysis to discover new things."

(Schiebinger, International Gendered Innovations movement constituting scientists, engineers and gender experts)

In past opinions of women were not given due respect and they were not considered an important part of scientific community as of now where women and men are given equal importance and women working in engineering and science are respected and given due respect as they deserve.

The power of collaboration

One gender in field of science especially engineering limits the scope of the field and ideas remain limited while including women in work enhances the general knowledge and ideas. In science researches done solo versus working in teams with female members have to a good extent completely opposite results as science requires vast set of ideas and imagination that only one gender cannot have all to it.

According to the Atlantic Monthly magazine's cover story in May, "Half a dozen global studies, conducted by the likes of Goldman Sachs and Columbia University, have found that companies employing women in large numbers outperform their competitors on every measure of profitability."

Computer engineering for men only?

Engineering and especially computer engineering is said to related to men only and this stereotypical thinking has lead women to leave or reject this field of study. Women have been one of the early enthusiastic adopters of most of the technologies. But the women receiving bachelor’s degrees are a very few and less than 20% of women receive bachelor’s degrees.
Women now days are working shoulder to shoulder to male in this field as it requires ability and experience and women are said to be producing more and better results than men these days. Better ability to think and fast has lead women to get to this field more than the women from the past.

Internet term “Bro-coding”

Computer science is a field with the lowest participation by women and Programming is one of the major terms considered to be male dominated but this old thinking is now also changed by women not by force but by the work they have shown in past couple of years.

Gender Parity Index (GPI)

Gender Parity Index is a socioeconomic index which indicates level of access of education in comparison of males to female students. It differs from society to society and culture to culture depending upon history and education of the people of the society.
GPI of Pakistan for past couple of years is:

Year	Value
2013	0.87
2012	0.87
2011	0.86
2010	0.85

Results comparison

It is proven in past couple of years that women in education and workplace better results than men. Women in engineering in past couple of years have a better result ratio over men and passing ratio is also better among female now.

Analysts say that more women are needed in research to increase the range of inventions and breakthroughs that come from looking at problems differently than men typically do and this way engineering flourishes and outcomes are better .

International organization’s role to promote female education

There are a number of world organizations working to promote education among women. These organizations have centers and speakers all over the world to guide people so that they may choose better for their children and adults can choose better for themselves. Lack of facilities, guidance and family pressure are one of the main causes why girls at young age don’t get enough education sometimes and sometimes don’t choose right field of study. Some of well-known organizations are listed below.

Empower

Provides grants that contribute to children's education around the globe, and aims to eliminate gender inequality in education by the year 2030.

WEP

WEP (Women Engineers Pakistan) is a not profit organization working towards the promotion of science and technology among women also acknowledging them about their applications. This organization is run by a young Pakistan female Ramla Qureshi. This organization hopes to make Pakistan a completely different place with women treated equally to men. According to Ramla Pakistan is ranked 2^nd last out of 142 countries in World Economic Forum Gender Gap Survey. This organization hopes for better results in near future.

Friends Pakistan

Contributes to providing girls living in Pakistan with the opportunity to acquire an education, and helps to insure that they receive more than just a primary school education.

Educate Girls Globally

This organization promotes education among female in developing countries.

Malala Fund

This organization works to promote a complete 12 year education for girls and promote tertiary education among women. Named after Malala, this organization is well-known for the works for women of world and their rights for safe and secure education. Malala travels the world and visits places to encourage and promote education among girls and women.

Education in Pakistan with reference to previous reports and studies

Situation of education in Pakistan is always been a topic of discussion for people. Most of the population of Pakistan is still illiterate and majority of them are female. Gender discrimination has always been a major hurdle in the way of peaceful and easy education for women. Pakistan is one of the countries where gender discrimination is still one of the major and unsolved problems. World now is progressing by leaps and bounds and women have a huge role in this scenario.

Literacy rate in the country reduced to about 2% to 58% during the year 2015-2016 a level last seen in year 2013-2014.Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh saw a reduction in literacy rate while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s literacy rate remained same almost. Literacy rate in Balochistan in Fiscal year 2015 was 44% as compare to FY 16 which is 41% saw reduction of 3% with 36% literacy rate in female. Literacy rate in Sindh in FY 15 was 60% which was reduced to 55% in FY 16 and with 44% literacy rate in female population. KPK has maintained literacy rate of 53% from FY 14 and Punjab has a reduction of 1% in literacy rate from last Fiscal year with 54% literacy rate in female.

Educationalists have been pressurizing government to allocate GDP 4.0 in education sector which was 2.1% in year 2013-14.

RELATED LITERATURE

Literature on women in engineering is extensive and there is a vast set of knowledge available.

In a 2016 study by Dr. Afshan Huma, which focuses on tertiary education system in various regions of Pakistan she found that

· In a study of 2014-2015, data shows male and female has 48% is to 52% enrolment ratio at the 14 years Bachelor level programs, which depicts better enrolment in female.

· In study of 2014-2015, data shows male and female has 68% to 32% enrolment ratio at the 16 years Bachelor level programs, which depicts that females are almost half the number of males in 16 year programs at university level.

· In study of 2014-2015, data shows male and female has 45% is to 55% enrolment ratio at the 16 years Master level programs, which depicts better enrolment in female.

· In study of 2014-2015, at MS/M.Phil level female to male student ratio is 32% to 68% which depicts that female students are less than half of male students.

· In study of 2014-2015, male and female enrolment ratio is 64% to 36% at PhD Level, which depicts that the female students are almost half of male students.

Scholarships Availed

· Need base scholarships awarded during 2014-2015 were divided among female to male students in ratio 42% to 58%.

· USAID merit and need based scholarships awarded in year 2014-2015 were divided among female to male students in ratio 33% to 67%.

Findings

· Enrollment of women in tertiary education system has increased to a great extent as compared to past where education among women was not considered good in most of the cultures and areas of world.

· Enrollment of women in engineering has increased significantly in past couple of years in most of areas of Pakistan.

· Women in workplace are now encouraged more than they were in past and this profession is considered respectable for women now.

· Universities now offer almost equal enrollment to both genders for engineering at tertiary level.

· Women now find themselves free to choose their field of study and stereotypical thinking of non-engineering culture is now only a part of books for most of the part of the world.

Conclusion

Engineering is a platform where both genders are equally encouraged and given due respect as it requires skill and mind which is not Inherited to one gender only yet it is every single individuals quality and not all men are better than women. In Pakistan and in most of developing countries engineering is now a well-known profession in women and women tend to adopt it if they wish to. In Pakistan engineering universities are progressing rapidly and women are encouraged there and same is the case with the workplaces where only skill is required so gender does not matter there.

Recommendations

In the light of previous studies and reports and data collected via search engines here are some of recommendations lined up to promote education and especially engineering among women and to provide proper access and equity to both the genders.

· Proper data structure in higher education systems as to eliminate all gender discriminations among women.

· At time of new enrollments in tertiary education institutions, data should be collected and analyzed so deserving students who are worthy of help in any matter like financial assistance should be helped as most of the female students could not get admission in engineering institutions because of financial problems.

· Scholarships system should be discrimination free so both genders can enjoy equal rights of education.

· More universities in less developed areas should be built so people living there can get access to good education as in most areas women are not allowed to study in a different city or to live in hostels.

· Teachers should tell female students the importance of education and science at primary and secondary levels so they don’t quit education after primary or secondary classes.

References

· Dr. Afshan Huma. (2012). Access and Equity, Higher Education Commission, Pakistan

· Marguerite Del Giudice. (2014). Why It is crucial to get more women in Science, National Geographic

· Riaz ul Haq. (26-5- 2017). Literacy Rate Slips by 2%, Express tribune, Pakistan

· Michelleloyen. (October 28^th 2017). Re-Imagine Engineering. Engineering and Feminism.

· Ramla Qureshi. WEP-Women Engineers Pakistan

· Educating girls matters.org