Activities of and recommendations for universities in Germany to make engineering courses more attactive for women

摘要

For future design processes, economic success, social development and innovation, the competencies and skills of all are required. Especially in the field of technological and scientific careers, where there is a high level of demand for labour, not least in the interest of increasing competitiveness, the potential of women has been only partially tapped. At the same time, technical specialists and managers now require different skills, and competencies are increasingly in demand which are more commonly attributed to women on account of the socialisation process they have undergone. It is a task and a challenge for universities to support women in taking the initiative in using their competencies and skills and implementing measures to bring about equal opportunities for the careers development of men and women. In order to fulfil this task by making engineering courses more attractive to women, the Expert Commission sees a specific need for action to be taken in various areas. On the basis of an analysis of model projects and research carried out in the last few years the commission has worked out a handbook with recommendations. It is available on the Internet in pdf files in a German and an English version. To access, see http:// www.wss.nrw.de under: "Pubhkarionen"; "Joint Commission"