digiMINT

The project generates scientific findings on the representation of women in the fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology (STEM), specifically in mechanical and plant engineering. Using a mix of methods, including qualitative, problem-centered interviews with female students and STEM students, as well as quantitative online surveys with companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector, a comprehensive and multi-perspective picture is being created of the framework conditions in STEM study and work areas that enable or hinder the recruitment, networking, and initiative of women in STEM.

On this basis and in systematic cooperation with actors from scientific, educational, political, and industrial practice, sustainable strategies for increasing the proportion of women in STEM are developed in the form of target group-oriented, gender-equitable recommendations for action.

Questions that the project aims to answer include:

• Where is the dropout: Why do so few female graduates from core engineering subjects and computer science find their way into mechanical and plant engineering?
• At what point along the way do they get lost, and how?
• How do female engineers decide on specific courses of study, different companies, and industries in this age of advancing digitalization?
• What opportunities do digitalization and other disruptive topics (e.g., new work) offer the mechanical and plant engineering industry to attract more female engineers?
• What role does (company) training play in talent retention and management? Contrary to popular belief, training has the potential to reduce staff turnover and thus create individual career stability.

The results of the digiMINT project will be used to develop target group-oriented guidelines for action in order to make a lasting contribution to increasing the proportion of women in STEM degree programs and to promote women's entry into academic careers and their advancement to top positions in STEM-related businesses and companies. Recommendations will therefore be developed to remove obstacles to attracting women to STEM fields of study and work.

The results of the project will also be made available to the interested public, the scientific community, politicians, and companies in publications tailored to the relevant target groups. The project and its (partial) results will also be presented and published at academic conferences and in scientific journals.

The quantitative and qualitative data collected in the project will be archived and made available for further analysis and research questions, including those of other (external) researchers (secondary use – scientific use).

A BMFTR research project.