Programming and Take up Technical Studies through Adaptations of the Curriculum, Changes in Didactics, and Optimized Interface Design

Many technically oriented degree programs in Austria such as the degree program Information Management have had and have problems to motivate females to take up technical studies. This paper looks into the reasons why females seem to be reluctant to study computer science (such as upbringing and socialization) and shows a best practice example of the degree program Information Management that managed to increase its enrolment of female students from 13 % in the winter semester 2003 to 33 % in the winter semester 2007. The best-practice example is based on the research of Margolis/Fisher [1] who show how the Carnegie Mellon University managed to significantly increase female enrolments in computer science within five years. After looking into the reasons that prevent women from taking up technical studies [2], the project TouchIT that was conducted at the degree program information management is described briefly. Within this project changes in the curriculum, the program’s advertising strategy [3], but also in the didactic approaches were made to meet the needs of female students in the field of technology. Great emphasis was laid on finding out design preferences of females as far as user interfaces are concerned [4]. These preferences will also be described in this paper along with different expectations towards computing of girls and women according to Margolis/Fisher [1]