Entrepreneurship with a gender focus in Engineering: The case of the Technological University of Bolívar

Abstract

Women have historically been underrepresented in engineering and face additional barriers in the entrepreneurial field due to gender stereotypes. This article focuses on comparing the performance of students in the institutional seal course at the Bolívar Technological University, called creativity and entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on gender disparities, taking the engineering faculty as a reference. Furthermore, this analysis is crucial to understand how education and its modalities, in-person and remote, have influenced academic performance. Preliminary results indicate that women in engineering obtained better grades than their male peers, and that academic performance was superior to that of women from other faculties, and even more so in remote mode. This suggests that, despite the challenges, distance education was able to provide a favorable learning environment for women in engineering. The study concludes that it is essential to promote educational policies that promote gender equity, especially in courses in the engineering entrepreneurship line, to create a more inclusive and equitable academic environment. Additionally, it is recommended that UTB conduct regular evaluations of these programs to ensure their effectiveness in promoting gender equality and the academic success of female STEAM career students.