Academic performance and factors that influence the desertion of engineering students: a study with a gender approach

In the last decade, the participation of women in STEM careers has shown a slight increase. Despite this, it is still insufficient regarding the representation of women in these areas [1]. Success in the curricular advancement of women who decide to study an engineering career becomes an important factor to achieve gender equality in the labor field, for which some factors such as academic performance, the student community environment, teaching support, financial support, among others [2], are key to promoting the interest of female students to stay and complete their engineering university studies. Thus, it is highly relevant for educational institutions to promote the entry of women into STEM careers and oversee the environment and factors associated with their curricular advancement so that they are in equal conditions as male students. The purpose of this work is to make visible the difficulties and reasons that could lead students to give up their careers and analyze whether this cause is associated with gender representation. This is a quantitative study that contemplates a survey administered to the Industrial Engineering career students, in the regular and continuity of studies modalities. Based on the results obtained: (1) a descriptive analysis based on the characterization of the students and (2) an inferential analysis is carried out to identify the main causes that may affect women's academic development. This work will allow us to reflect on gender equity in STEM careers dropout rates and identify its leading causes, allowing for the generation of future institutional actions that support women to stay and complete their careers.