Track: Engineering Education

Abstract

The study is coming from the premise that the prevalence of standards associated with the male gender role hinders most of the young women to consider building a career in the field of engineering. In line with this epistemology, the study posits that most young women in the Philippines are more drawn to a specific type of engineering program rather than considering a variety of engineering discipline as a career option. Using qualitative research method, specifically thematic analysis, the study aimed to highlight the prevailing stereotypes of undergraduate students taking up industrial engineering from two of the premier professional technological institutions in the national capital region of the Philippines. With an end in view of understanding what shapes the outlook and mentality of students to consider industrial engineering as a degree program, themes gathered from two focused group discussions were used to give meaning to the experience of students in selecting an engineering major in tertiary education. Results of the study revealed that students do have a speckled perspective on industrial engineering. The study suggests that generalizations about industrial engineering as a discipline shapes the decision of an incoming undergraduate student to properly identify a suitable engineering program to pursue. The study contributes to the growing number of literature in the fields of engineering education and training, women in non-traditional areas, gender and development, and in general, women in engineering.