Challenges Faced by Female-Students in Engineering-Education

Gender-related challenges in learning technical courses are universal phenomenon. These challenges could restrain female students from achieving their fullest potential. The main focus of this study, therefore, is to examine self-recognized challenges faced by undergraduate female students in pursuing engineering at the School of Engineering (SOE), Moi University (MU). This article is an account from a larger gender-related study based on SOE, MU. Quantitative and qualitative methods have been applied in this study. The researchers designed, administered and analyzed a 20-question questioner addressed to female undergraduate students at SOE, MU. The focal point (single-school, cross-sectional) sample was chosen at random, and was limited to 50 female pupils representing each of the 5 engineering departments of SOE (about 20% of the population of the female students) at 2014/2015 academic year. From the survey reports, the sample consisted of 45 students (90%) under regular (GSSP) program and 5students (10%) under Privately Sponsored Students Program (PSSP). The respondents included students from each year of a 5-year degree-program: 25 students (50%) in 5th year, 17 students (34%) in 4th year, 3 students (6%) in 3rd year, 3 students (6%) in 2nd year and 2 students (4%) in 1st year of study. The age bracket of female students was between 18 and 26 years old. Qualitative Data Coding Techniques were applied to interpret the collected data. The responses to the questioner were analyzed using NVivo software (version 10: QSR, 2012). 66% of the respondents agreed that there are barriers in their education at SOE. Based on the findings and their analysis, it is apparent, that the female students, indeed, faced numerous gender-related challenges and even harassment from teachers and classmates in studying at SOE. The study has made recommendations: in order to increase Retention and improve learning environment in the field of engineering education, female student Support and Mentoring activities should be designed and incorporated at engineering school. Keywords: Females, Gender-related challenges, Undergraduate engineering education