Women are gaining ground

The number of women enrolled in science or technology degree courses is growing steadily. Still, it is not enough to meet the high demand of the Spanish labour market. Studying a STEM degree (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) offers a more optimistic outlook in terms of employability, job security and better salaries. Not only that, companies in these sectors are calling for greater female representation in their workforces and management roles, a trend reflected in the classrooms.

This is not just a question of equity, but also of efficiency and innovation capacity. Quite simply, if society excludes women, it excludes a large portion of talent (aggravated by the fact that they achieve better grades) and a different approach to tackling and solving problems. Encouraging women's interest in STEM is beneficial for society, as it accelerates and ensures global progress. Not surprisingly, the strategic game of global technological relevance is also being played out on this front.

Currently, women account for 30% of students in STEM courses at Spanish universities. At the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), a more marked trend has been evident for years. To take just one example, this is corroborated by the total percentage of women enrolled at the UPV, which has risen from 35% in 2010 to 44% today. If we take a closer look at STEM degrees, this trend is confirmed across the board, even in computer science and ICT, where the percentages are usually more modest. This is the case for Mechanical Engineering, which has gone from 7% women in 2010 to 18% today, and for Computer Engineering, from 9% to 18% over the same period.

Steady progress

The Bachelor's Degree in Digital Technology and Multimedia opened the doors for Nuria López Romero to a company like DAS Audio Group, where she joined three years ago as a software engineer. From her experience, she perceives a growing female presence in her professional environment, which began, precisely, during her university years: "At the School of Telecommunications Engineering, I was already part of a large group of women. And in my company, since I joined three years ago, I've seen the number of female colleagues double. I think it's important to feel that sense of belonging and to see how the number of women in these fields keeps growing."

The director of this degree programme, Germán Ramos, notes the "notable" shortage of professionals in the field of Information and Communications Technologies in Spain. Although the number of women starting this degree varies each year, Ramos notes how women are gradually gaining a more prominent role in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

Engineering degrees with more women than men

The path has been set, and it is clear that it is possible to tip the balance. The UPV currently offers various science and engineering degrees in which gender parity is already a reality. The Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Organisation Engineering, which trains professionals with a solid scientific and technological foundation to lead teams in production and quality control within companies, had 37 female students enrolled across its four years in 2010. Currently, the figure stands at 186 out of a total of 399, meaning it has increased fivefold in 15 years, reaching 46%.

The academic director of the degree programme, Carlos Andrés, highlights that female students on the course tend to achieve "very high academic performance and secure excellent employment upon graduation".

UPV initiatives to inspire careers

Behind this phenomenon lie several factors, such as a more realistic perception of these degrees, the fight against gender inequality in these particular fields, countering certain prejudices, and raising the profile of female role models, amongst others.

The Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) has been running various projects and initiatives in this area for years, such as the Praktikum and Up! Steam programmes. Both promote scientific careers among primary and secondary school pupils, with a particular focus on and dedication to girls. The results speak for themselves: female student participation in both cases continues to grow, reaching near parity (45%) in Up! Steam.

Another example is Dones de Ciència. This project involves installing artistic murals in schools featuring female scientists who broke barriers to become true role models. There are now 49 murals spread throughout the Valencian Community and beyond, including at the SEAT Martorell factory. Undoubtedly, this is a highly effective (and even award-winning) way to showcase what women can achieve in these fields, to spark interest in science at increasingly younger ages.