One in three students in engineering, computing and project management are now women at the University of Sydney, double the national average.
Over the past four years, the university has seen a 30 per cent increase in female enrolments, with a 43 per cent increase in project management students.
This year, more than half of the leadership scholarships were awarded to young women – the scholarship spurred on Courtney Withers (pictured left) to apply for a Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Mechatronic)/Bachelor of Project Management degree.
Withers, who hopes to work in team management in mechatronics, became involved in engineering in year 10 when she attended a People to People Program for Information in Technology at Stanford University in the United States.
“This sparked an interest for me in the field of robotics, and then throughout my senior school career I fostered a love for maths and science, which eventually led me to decide on engineering as my chosen degree,” she said.
“I think what really finalised my intentions to become an engineer was speaking to people around me who had followed a similar course, and who spoke so highly of the profession and the diversity of having an engineering degree.”
While Withers said being a woman in engineering is still about being in a man’s world, she hopes the industry is on a road to change.
She believes men and women should both be working toward a common goal, but Withers said she is aware of the challenges of being a woman in engineering and getting through the glass ceiling.
“The important thing is that I don’t keep wondering, that I make the effort, I crack the ceiling and I don’t let that hold me back,” Withers said.
“I believe the industry is waiting with welcome arms, and if we don’t even acknowledge the thought that gender could be an issue, then one day future women in our places won’t even think twice about the career path they are on.”
One way Withers believes the number of women in engineering could be boosted is by tapping in to girls in their formative years – grades 8 to 10 – and exposing them more to the industry.
She said if girls are shown the interesting side of engineering and become familiar with the field before they choose their senior subjects, it could inspire a whole new generation of engineers.
Withers said mentors can also play an important role, and it’s important for girls to see women in the industry in key positions in companies.
“I always find that the most inspiring thing is to feel someone’s passion, and I think that showing young girls that drive could be best encouragement of all,” she said.
Elly Williams (pictured lower) is another recipient of a scholarship at the University of Sydney for her Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Mechatronic) /Bachelor of Science degree, with the goal of becoming an environmental engineer.
Engineering has been a significant part of her life from a young age – her father is an engineering professor, and the projects he worked on held a certain level of fascination for her.
While she never thought she was capable of those types of achievements, a few years ago engineering studies was presented to her as an elective in high school, where she took the course in grades 9 to 10.
Now into the first year of her degree, Williams said she is finding the course challenging but interesting.
“I enjoy the company of my peers in the engineering faculty – there are a lot of great people around who will help you when you need it,” she said.
Williams had some concerns about being a young woman in the industry, but believes now is the time for women to consider engineering as a career due to the push to boost numbers in the field.
“Even though it is true that I might be patronised or my abilities underestimated by some, I believe that through hard work and steadfast determination I can dispel these prejudices and succeed in the industry,” she said.
Williams said dispelling the stereotypes in engineering is one way more girls could be encouraged to take up engineering.
For example, she said terms such as “that’s a man’s job” or descriptions of engineers as “boys with toys” are damaging to the industry.
“Many girls are deterred from engineering as a result of these stereotypes. I believe that what we need to show young women is that they don’t have to fit one of society’s constructed stereotypes to be a successful engineer – they just have to be passionate about creating things to help people,” Williams said.
Her advice is for girls to disregard it when people make statements such as these.
“If you are confident and assertive and love what you do you will be successful, regardless of your gender. The push for women in engineering is so strong right now, so it really is such a great time to get involved,” she said.
[Image: Courtney Withers (left) and Elly Williams (right).]
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