Promoting female STEM vocations: sharing experiences in Colombia, Ghana, and Spain

Abstract

The rate of female students in STEM studies is around 30, and even lower in disciplines such as civil, industrial and computing engineering. As the market and society demand a greater number of engineers, attracting and retaining more female talent in engineering has become a global challenge to avoid losing talent. In this context, the Fundación Universitaria Tecnológico Comfenalco in Colombia initiated a project to gain a broader perspective on the problem and potential solutions, taking into account the current participation of females in engineering studies in Colombia, as well as in other countries, such as Ghana and Spain. The project started with a study profiling current female engineering students aimed at identifying significant differences between the three countries. A trip to Spain was organised to learn about the approaches employed by the Women and Technology Chair at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and the Chair for the Promotion of Women in STEM Vocational Training for Sustainable Mobility (STEM Women Chair) at Universidad Pontificia Comillas. This paper introduces the visit to Madrid of a group of female students and academics of diverse engineering degrees from two universities in Colombia, Fundación Universitaria Tecnologico Comfenalco in Cartagena and Institución Universitaria Salazar y Herrera in Medellin, and the Kumasi University of Ghana of Ghana. During the visits, participants learned about the activities carried out in Spain and also visited leading companies in various engineering sectors. The impact of the visit was assessed through questionnaires and video testimonies. Results show that it was a motivating experience for all participants. The visiting academics were exposed to strategies for promoting STEM studies that could inspire future programs. Visiting students learnt about innovative and multidisciplinary engineering projects and possible career opportunities, such as research, that they had not considered before. For Spanish academics, participating in the project allowed them to learn about the situation of women in engineering in countries such as Colombia and Ghana, as well as the problems they face. Spanish students could meet students from other countries whose life circumstances differ, allowing them to appreciate their situation better and become more empathetic about other cultures.