MINT study programs: Bremen girls discover new opportunities!

MINT study programs: Bremen girls discover new opportunities!

The competence center for women in science and technology University of Bremen invites students in grades 10 to 13 to a three-day trial course from July 7th to 9th. This orientation offer is aimed specifically at young women who are interested in MINT courses (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology).

The program includes a variety of activities aimed at facilitating access to these disciplines. This includes workshops and laboratory exercises from various MINT areas, discussions with students as well as campus tours and excursions to Bremen companies. The participation fee is 10 euros and includes drinks, snacks and cafeteria food. The registration deadline for interested students is June 25th, although places are limited.

MINTsteps and the promotion of girls in MINT careers

The trial course is part of the MINTsteps joint project, which has been funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) since May 2024. The aim of MINTsteps is to break down stereotypical gender images and make it easier for young women to access MINT subjects. In addition, the participants should be strengthened through encounters with students, researchers and professional practitioners.

A study on STEM education shows that 70 percent of the students surveyed have a personal interest in STEM topics. Nevertheless, over 40 percent of them feel overwhelmed by these topics or find the MINT area too difficult. Many students say they do not feel adequately prepared to study or train in STEM fields, with a lack of female role models often cited as a reason for these concerns. The influence of role models from their own living environment, such as teachers, family members and business practitioners, plays a decisive role in the young women's choice of study IU reported.

Gender differences in career choice

The gender-specific differences in career choice and training paths are clear in Germany. Young women often choose careers such as clerks in office management, specialists in (dental) medicine or other health professions, while young men tend to choose technical professions such as mechatronics engineers or electronics engineers. The proportion of female trainees in MINT professions is only 10.7 percent.

These inequalities are also reflected in the choice of study programs. Loud DIW Women in the 2018/2019 winter semester who study business administration, law and psychology have completely different preferences than men, who often study computer science or mechanical engineering. The proportion of women in MINT subjects is just 30.9 percent, which underlines the urgency of creating targeted support offers such as trial studies.

Overall, it shows that events such as the trial course at the University of Bremen can provide important impetus to motivate female students to engage more intensively with MINT subjects and to break down existing gender stereotypes.