Paving the path: empowering women in STEM from university to industry

The recent digital transformation of higher education underscores the crucial role of STEM disciplines in addressing real-world challenges, emphasizing the urgent need for problem-solving skills, creativity, and diversity within the STEM student community. Despite growing awareness of the gender disparity in STEM professions, women remain underrepresented in these fields. This paper conducts a comprehensive study delving into the determinants influencing the decision to pursue a STEM degree and the challenges faced during STEM education. Through survey data analysis, the research explores actionable mechanisms to enhance the presence of women in STEM subjects and support their career progression. The study not only identifies obstacles but also formulates a set of recommendations to establish a robust support system for women in STEM. These recommendations aim to foster their academic retention, facilitate continuous professional development, and contribute to narrowing the gender gap in STEM occupations. By addressing the root causes and proposing concrete solutions, this research seeks to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable STEM landscape, fostering an environment where women can thrive and make significant contributions to the ever-evolving field of science and technology. Furthermore, this research serves as a call to action for institutions, policymakers, and stakeholders to collectively champion initiatives that empower and propel women to excel in STEM fields.

© 2024 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.