Actions to promote diversity in engineering studies: a case study in a Computer Science Degree
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The document presents a case study focused on promoting diversity and inclusion in computer engineering education, specifically at the University of Salamanca. It highlights the implementation of project-based learning and gender perspectives in software engineering courses to address underrepresentation, particularly among women. Preliminary results from a survey indicate general support for gender equality and the need for increased female presence in technology fields.
Actions to promote diversity in engineering studies: a case study in a Computer Science Degree
- 1. Actions to promote diversity in engineering studies: a case study in a Computer Science Degree Carina González University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain cjgonza@ull.edu.es Alicia García-Holgado, Andrea Vázquez-Ingelmo, Sonia Verdugo-Castro Mª Cruz Sánchez-Gómez, Francisco J. García-Peñalvo GRIAL Research Group, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain {aliciagh, andreavazquez, soniavercas, mcsago, fgarcia } @usal.es
- 2. Motivation It is essential to work from and for the promotion of diversity in the educational framework It is possible to identify inequalities for equal representation in STEM sector, both educational and professional context
- 3. Diversity Attract representative students from all sectors of society, different ethnic groups, cultures, disabilities, etc Inclusion Some groups may be excluded if their needs are not adequately addressed, therefore we also speak of inclusion
- 4. One of the groups with less representation in engineering is women, although they represent 50% of society
- 5. Objective Promote the diversity and inclusion among engineering students and, specifically, among computer engineering students
- 6. Context Degree in Computer Engineering at the University of Salamanca (Spain) The area of Software Engineering is composed by 3 compulsory courses: Software Engineering I and II, and Projects Management The case study is carried out in Software Engineering I: • It gives an overview of software engineering, • and it addresses the first activities of the software development process
- 7. Starting point • Methodological change to increase the success rate -> PBL • The final project establishes the organization of the subject 2016-17 • Introduction of the gender perspective • Definition of the GENder perspective in Computer Engineering questionnaire (GENCE) 2016-17 • Validation of the GENCE questionnaire • Improvement of the active learning approach based on PBL 2017-18
- 8. Participants
- 9. Final project To design a software system given a series of requirements, to reach the different milestones that can be found in real-world software developments The client role will be portrayed by the coach figure Theme: to conceptualize and design an application that supports diversity and inclusion policies in the business context The students has freedom to design any software solution that they feel might be beneficial and valuable for promoting diversity in the businesses scope
- 10. Coach figure External expert is introduced to contribute to the definition of the problem to be solved through software development It guides the students and will play the client role, with special emphasis on issues concerning diversity and ethics Most of the students are men and there are not enough women to be involved in all teams, so the expert is a woman to introduce some gender balance in the teams
- 11. Occasional Talks The use of agile methodologies in order to show how companies develop software nowadays and how these methodologies can help to promote inclusion and equity in teamwork Tools and techniques to work remotely during the break Experiences related to human resources processes This talk is scheduled at the beginning of the subject and the speaker is a young woman both is developer in a company and teaches in a university Last talk, the speakers are a man, director of a software company, and a foreign woman, scrum master in the same software company The planification of the final project does not stop during the holidays, so students have to continue working in the distance. The speaker is a young man that works remotely as developer and researcher in an international company
- 12. Gamification Motivate students and achieve a higher impact regarding the experience A set of badges that are associated with different challenges along the course The main badges related to award diversity and inclusion are: Diversity first Inclusion policies Q&A Inclusive UML
- 13. Evaluation Three differentiated phases: • Participant observation of the different technological, inclusive and ethical solutions proposed by the external coach in the software development sessions - GENCE questionnaire to determine if the activities presented have been effective https://repositorio.grial.eu/handle/grial/14 - Analyse the content of the badges or visual representations that are associated with the challenges posed in the activities of gamification
- 14. The most relevant meanings will be delved into using the focus group technique at the end of the course
- 15. Preliminary results Low number of participants in the first application: 20 students participated but only 13 answers are valid because the other 7 are incomplete 2 women (15.38%) and 11 men (84.62%) participated 12 are heterosexual (92.31%) and 1 is bisexual (7.69%)
- 16. Preliminary results 84.62% agree with the statement “Gender equality is an important issue that must be addressed from all areas (family, educational, social and labour)”, 92.31% disagree with the statement “Gender influences to finish computer science studies” 69.23% neither agree nor disagree with the statement “More women are needed to perform jobs in the technological field”
- 17. Conclusions ➤ Technology is part of the daily life for most of the population, so the different sectors should be represented in the processes to define and develop technology ➤ The actions to promote diversity should be part of the curricula of any degree related to Computer Engineering or Computer Science ➤ The purpose is to introduce the diversity concept at every stage carried out within the software engineering field: from the problem definition to management tasks (focusing on the end users of the final product)
- 19. Actions to promote diversity in engineering studies: a case study in a Computer Science Degree Carina González University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain cjgonza@ull.edu.es Alicia García-Holgado, Andrea Vázquez-Ingelmo, Sonia Verdugo-Castro Mª Cruz Sánchez-Gómez, Francisco J. García-Peñalvo GRIAL Research Group, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain {aliciagh, andreavazquez, soniavercas, mcsago, fgarcia } @usal.es