To date, women are still significantly underrepresented in ICT professions in Germany. There are many reasons for this, which are being examined in more detail across Europe as part of the HER TECH project. Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences is researching the current situation in the fields of ICT and STEM in Germany.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, between 10% and 13% of people in IT professions are women. In the STEM sector, the proportion is slightly higher at 16%. These figures alone show that there is a lot of catching up to do. However, due to the shortage of skilled workers, especially in technical professions, and a greater awareness of gender equality, the issue is becoming increasingly important.
The causes often lie in early childhood education, stereotypes and role models that are passed on both at school and at home.
In the first step of the project, Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences conducted a comprehensive analysis of programmes and initiatives in Germany that specialize in promoting girls and women in technical professions and training courses. The results show regional, national and international initiatives, some of which have a considerable reach.
Interviews with stakeholders from the various target groups of the project provide in-depth insights into the personal experiences of women in the ICT sector. The tenor here, too, is that the direction is right, but much of the learning content is still too tailored to the interests of boys. This often lays the foundation for later career choices at an early age, because girls are denied or not recognized as having an aptitude and talent in the technical field.
Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences, as the most important educational institution in south-east Bavaria, wants to counteract this and is particularly committed to promoting girls and women in the STEM field.
Rosenheim Technical University initiated the MINTregion18 network – a central platform for STEM stakeholders in south-east Upper Bavaria. Within this network, MINTnetz18+ was created in early 2023, connecting schools, companies, public institutions and the university to bundle regional STEM activities. The main topics range from support from kindergarten to university entrance qualifications, gender-sensitive concepts, STEM qualification of educational professionals and network coordination. At the children’s university, children aged 7 to 12 experience science first-hand – with exciting topics (e.g. sustainable plastics, airplanes, plant communication) and experiments in the laboratory.
The MINT-EC Regional Forum brings together school pupils (from grade 10 onwards), teachers and companies every year. Rosenheim Technical University offers workshops, laboratory tours, specialist lectures (e.g. ‘Plastic on the test bench’, personal stories ‘My story, my passion for science’) and further training for teachers on the subject of artificial intelligence in the classroom.
The MINTerAKTIV project (funded by the Ministry of Science and business associations) aims to improve the framework conditions for STEM subjects – including through lower dropout rates, better transitions from school to university and regional anchoring. Specifically, Rosenheim Technical University is using PRO-Aktjv to implement activating learning in physics (‘just-in-time teaching’, peer instruction, blended learning) and is developing materials that will also be made available to other universities.
The participation of Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences in the HER TECH project studies will provide further important insights into the steps that will be necessary in the future to close the gender gap.
More information about the programmes:
Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences
Picture: Children’s University at TH Rosenheim – Photo by Lisa Lanzinger. All rights reserved. Published with permission.
