Attracting Females into STEM – The QUB Perspective

12 June 2014

Professor Tom Millar

Dean, Engineering & Physical Sciences

Total Female Entrants A-level(more than 1000 entrants)

Biology Chemistry Physics Mathematics Information Technology0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

2006200720112012

Across all STEM A-levels, the number of female entrants has increased by 700 since 2006, males by 100.

% A-level entrants STEM Subjects

0%20%40%60%80%

A-level entrants 2006 and 2007

FemaleMale

0%20%40%60%80%

100%

A-level entrants 2011 and 2012

FemaleMale

Over all STEM subjects, the percentage of female entrants has reduced from 47 to 45% in the period

% QUB Female Applications by Discipline

2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

% Female Applications 2009-13

Biological SciencesBiomedical SciencesBusiness Info TechChemical EngineeringChemistryCivil EngineeringComputer ScienceEEEMaths & PhysicsMech & AeroPharmacyPsychology

% F

emal

e Ap

plica

tions

• In general, the percentage of female applications has been declining over period, with the biggest drop in Maths & Phys, 43 to 32%.

• In 2013, only Psychology Pharmacy and BMS had more than 50% female applications – in 2009, Chemistry and Biol Sci had more than 50%.

% QUB Female Offers 2009-13

2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

% Female Offers 2009-13

Biological SciencesBiomedical SciencesBusiness Info TechChemical EngineeringChemistryCivil EngineeringComputer ScienceEEEMaths & PhysicsMech & AeroPharmacyPsychology

% F

emal

e O

ffers

Offers tend to follow applications

% QUB Female Admissions 2009-13

2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

% Female Admissions 2009-13

Biological SciencesBiomedical SciencesBusiness Info TechChemical EngineeringChemistryCivil EngineeringComputer ScienceEEEMaths & PhysicsMech & AeroPharmacyPsychology

% F

emal

e Ad

miss

ions

• Percentage admitted tends to follow applications and offers, with outliers

• Chemistry offers 52%, intake 60% in 2011, down to 44% and 39% in 2013, similar trend in Chem Eng

% QUB Female across all STEM Schools

2009 2010 2011 2012 201305

1015202530354045

% Female representation in STEM Schools 2009-13

% Total Female Applications% Total Female Offers% Total Female Admissions

FEM

ALE

%

2013 has seen a significant drop in the percentage of applications, offers and admission, on the order of 5-6% since 2009.• Related to drop in A-level STEM entrants – only 2%?• Underlying demographics?• STEM subjects at University not as attractive?

Input

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-140.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

% Intake STEM Schools

FemaleMale

Perc

enta

ge

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14560

580

600

620

640

660

680

700

STEM Female Intake (FTE)

Female

• Percentage of females entering STEM subjects has been falling steadily since 2010 (43.4% to 37.2%)

• FTE has increased in the same period (612 to 673)

Output

2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-1360.0

65.0

70.0

75.0

80.0

85.0

% STEM Good Degrees

FemaleMale

Perc

enta

ge

• Females get better degrees (1st and 2.1) than males

• Females have better retention rates than males

Year 1: 4.6% vs 4.7% (2013)The QUB Year 1 retention rate (F) is 5.0%

• Overall (5 yr) retention rate: 11.2% vs 14.2% (2009)

% Female Applications, Offers and Intake 2009-13, by Discipline

20092010

20112012

2013

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

EEEMech & AeroCivil EngineeringComputer ScienceChemical EngineeringBusiness Info TechMaths & PhysicsChemistryBiological SciencesBiomedical SciencesPharmacyPsychology

% F

emal

e

Increasing the uptake of STEM subjects by girls at secondary levelDoes it matter? YES, if we are to achieve envisaged growth in ICT and Advanced Engineering in NIHow can it be achieved? FOR DISCUSSION