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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of (a) females and (b) males are studying science, engineering and technology based degrees; and if she will make a statement on government initiatives to increase the number of female graduates. [180064] Ms Hewitt: In the following table are some statistics, which show that in some degrees which require Science and Maths A levels such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, more women than men are studying, and becoming qualified in these subjects. However these statistics also highlight that there is still significant female under-representation in vital SET courses such as the Physical Sciences, Engineering and IT. Overall the number of female science, engineering and technology (SET) graduates is increasing. However, only one in every three SET graduates in 2002 were women. More men apply for, accept and obtain higher education qualifications in SET and SET-related subjects than women but as the statistics show, the picture is very different depending on the precise nature of the subject. The work being done in schools and further education colleges to enthuse young girls to take up these subjects is the beginning of the process to encourage girls and women to take SET degrees, especially in those areas where there is a definite gender imbalance. As part of the Government's new strategy1, a new UK Resource Centre for Women in SET aimed at working with employers, professional bodies and individuals in SET will be launched on 16 September 2004. The Government have allocated £800,000 per annum for three years to set up and operate the new Centre and an additional £500,000 per annum of the development of a dedicated returners package. The Resource Centre will hold pump-priming funds that will be used to fund innovative or proven projects, including £200,000 separately provided by DfES to the Centre for schemes in higher education institutions to put support measures in place that aid the retention and progression of women science undergraduates into the science labour force. 1 The Government's new strategy is outlined in full in the report published on 28 April 2003: `A Strategy for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology'. Percentage of students by subject group, gender, level of study and first-year marker, 2002-03 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Post-graduates Undergraduates First-year undergraduates Subject area Female Male Female Male Female Male Medicine and Dentistry 53 47 57 43 61 39 Subjects allied to 72 28 85 15 86 14 medicine Biological Sciences 62 38 63 37 62 38 Veterinary Science 54 46 74 26 74 26 Agriculture and related 50 50 59 41 60 40 subjects Physical Sciences 38 62 41 60 41 59 Mathematical Sciences 35 65 40 60 39 62 Computer Science 26 74 25 75 28 72 Engineering and 18 82 14 86 14 86 Technology _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Source: HESA

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

180064; 423 c670-2W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Women Graduates Gender Higher education Engineering Men Technology Science Student numbers Postgraduate education

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk