Preferences and challenges for female graduate engineering students: A survey based study

Abstract

Increasing the number of female graduate students in engineering education has always been challenging. This study presented here examines the preferences and self-recognized challenges identified by international female graduate engineering students at U.S. schools. These findings can also be used by institutions to attract more female students in graduate engineering programs by integrating in ongoing recruitment and retention efforts. Research findings are based on a comprehensive online survey designed and conducted by the authors, who are of diverse nationality, educational background, and gender. Male and female international graduate students and alumni at U.S. schools were invited to complete the online survey. Results indicate that preferences of international students to choose a graduate school differ by gender and female students tend to choose a school on a different set of criteria compared to their male colleagues. Common challenges faced and preferences adopted in choosing a school identified by female graduate students are compiled, contrasted to male responses, and presented. Survey results discussed here can be directly applied by institutions to improve recruiting and retention of women graduate engineering students. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2010.