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Extraordinary Women Engineers Project
Needs Assessment:
Final Report
View the entire report (pdf, 163 K)
The Extraordinary Women Engineers project (EWEP) is a national initiative to encourage girls to consider pursuing a degree and subsequent career in engineering. The project is led by a coalition of the country’s engineering associations and the American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and WGBH Educational Foundation.
Some Key Findings
What do high school girls think about engineering?
High school girls believe engineering is for people who love both math and science. They do not have an understanding of what engineering is. They do not show an interest in the field nor do they think it is “for them.”
What are career motivators for high school girls?
Professional interests for high school girls hinge upon relevance. Relevance incorporates the perception that a job is rewarding, and it suggests that the profession is for someone “like me.” Girls want their job to be enjoyable, have a good working environment, make a difference, offer a good salary, and be flexible.
What message is the engineering community sending to high school students?
Current engineering messages portray engineering as challenging, and stress the importance of superior math and science abilities. These messages are not relevant to this audience. Messages do not include the benefits and rewards of being an engineer.
What messages about engineering will resonate with high school students?
High school girls react positively to personal and informational stories that tell more about the engineering lifestyle. They are interested in learning how engineering aligns with their career motivators—enjoyable, good working environment, making a difference, good income, and flexibility. The most effective messages use examples that contain multiple career motivators.
Read the complete report for findings, methodology, recommendations, and more.
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