Vocation and Persistence: A Case Study on the Retention of Women in Industrial Engineering at UNIMINUTO Cali

Resumen

The present article analyzes the factors that influence the persistence of female students in the Industrial Engineering program at the Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios (UNIMINUTO), Cali campus. Through a qualitative and quantitative case study, key variables associated with professional vocation, academic motivation, structural barriers, and institutional support networks were identified. The findings help to understand how women’s educational trajectories are constructed in a traditionally male-dominated field, and which protective factors enable their persistence and completion of studies. Semi-structured interviews, surveys of students from various semesters, and documentary analysis of institutional reports were employed. The results highlight the importance of female role models, early engagement in research, and academic mentoring as effective strategies to strengthen vocation and mitigate dropout. Furthermore, self-confidence, family context, and social expectations significantly influence the decision to continue in the program. The study concludes with recommendations for designing gender-sensitive retention strategies in engineering programs.