Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020
341. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which male and female students continued to be attracted in equal proportions to participation in the sciences; if a corrective measure or inducement is needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42844/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe student numbers for all faculties during the academic year 2018/19 is contained in the attached excel spreadsheet.
The Department of Education's STEM Education Policy Statement 2017–2026, published in November 2017, sets out the ambitious goals and actions required to achieve and improve the STEM education experience and outcomes for all learners from Early Years to Post Primary level. In realising Ireland’s aim to have the best education and training service in Europe within a decade, we must provide the most effective and engaging teaching, learning and assessment environment for STEM education at all levels. The STEM implementation plan builds on a range of reforms and initiatives already underway in STEM, in areas such as curriculum and assessment reform, teacher professional development, embedding digital learning and advances in initial teacher education.
Increasing the numbers of females in STEM is a key action in the STEM Education Implementation Plan. There is a need to attract more females into STEM subjects at school level and ensure that they engage in STEM courses at higher or further education. At further and higher education there is a need for a focus on retention as there is a higher attrition rate for females leaving STEM careers than for males.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has forecast that the number of research personnel employed within our knowledge-intensive industries will increase from 25,000 to 40,000 in the next four years. Thus increasing demand for graduates with STEM-related skills and qualifications across different sectors of the economy. Greater retention in STEM courses at Further and Higher Education will ensure that we have qualified people with the right skills to attract job opportunities and investment in these sectors.
|
2018/2019 |
Female |
Male |
|
Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics |
51% |
49% |
|
(0510) Biological and related sciences not further defined or elsewhere classified |
55% |
45% |
|
(0511) Biology |
63% |
37% |
|
(0512) Biochemistry |
64% |
36% |
|
(0520) Environment not further defined or elsewhere classified |
55% |
45% |
|
(0521) Environmental sciences |
46% |
54% |
|
(0522) Natural environments and wildlife |
55% |
45% |
|
(0530) Physical sciences not further defined or elsewhere classified |
49% |
51% |
|
(0531) Chemistry |
51% |
49% |
|
(0532) Earth sciences |
48% |
52% |
|
(0533) Physics |
23% |
77% |
|
(0540) Mathematics and statistics not further defined or elsewhere classified |
27% |
73% |
|
(0541) Mathematics |
27% |
73% |
|
(0542) Statistics |
41% |
59% |
|
(0588) Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving natural sciences, mathematics and statistics |
55% |
45% |
|
Broad Field of Study / Detailed Field of Study |
Female |
Male |
|
Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary |
47% |
53% |
|
Arts and humanities |
61% |
39% |
|
Business, administration and law |
50% |
50% |
|
Education |
74% |
26% |
|
Engineering, manufacturing and construction |
21% |
79% |
|
Generic programmes and qualifications |
59% |
41% |
|
Health and welfare |
76% |
24% |
|
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) |
20% |
80% |
|
Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics |
51% |
49% |
|
Services |
44% |
56% |
|
Social sciences, journalism and information |
62% |
38% |
|
Total |
53% |
47% |
|
Broad Field of Study / Detailed Field of Study |
Female |
Male |
|
Agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary |
47% |
53% |
|
(0811) Crop and livestock production |
33% |
67% |
|
(0812) Horticulture |
26% |
74% |
|
(0819) Agriculture not further defined or elsewhere classified |
24% |
76% |
|
(0821) Forestry |
9% |
91% |
|
(0841) Veterinary |
80% |
20% |
|
(0888) Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary |
49% |
51% |
|
Arts and humanities |
61% |
39% |
|
(0210) Arts not further defined or elsewhere classified |
65% |
35% |
|
(0211) Audio-visual techniques and media production |
45% |
55% |
|
(0212) Fashion, interior and industrial design |
64% |
36% |
|
(0213) Fine arts |
74% |
26% |
|
(0214) Handicrafts |
87% |
13% |
|
(0215) Music and performing arts |
53% |
47% |
|
(0220) Humanities (except languages) not further defined or elsewhere classified |
62% |
38% |
|
(0221) Religion and theology |
55% |
45% |
|
(0222) History and archaeology |
50% |
50% |
|
(0223) Philosophy and ethics |
42% |
58% |
|
(0230) Languages not further defined or elsewhere classified |
72% |
28% |
|
(0231) Language acquisition |
69% |
31% |
|
(0232) Literature and linguistics |
71% |
29% |
|
(0288) Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving arts and humanities |
62% |
38% |
|
Business, administration and law |
50% |
50% |
|
(0410) Business and administration not further defined or elsewhere classified |
47% |
53% |
|
(0411) Accounting and taxation |
51% |
49% |
|
(0412) Finance, banking and insurance |
48% |
52% |
|
(0413) Management and administration |
48% |
52% |
|
(0414) Marketing and advertising |
51% |
49% |
|
(0415) Secretarial and office work |
65% |
35% |
|
(0416) Wholesale and retail sales |
48% |
52% |
|
(0417) Work skills |
25% |
75% |
|
(0421) Law |
60% |
40% |
|
(0488) Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving business, administration and law |
42% |
58% |
|
Education |
74% |
26% |
|
(0110) Education not further defined or elsewhere classified |
75% |
25% |
|
(0111) Education science |
72% |
28% |
|
(0112) Training for pre-school teachers |
98% |
2% |
|
(0113) Teacher training without subject specialization |
80% |
20% |
|
(0114) Teacher training with subject specialization |
60% |
40% |
|
Engineering, manufacturing and construction |
21% |
79% |
|
(0710) Engineering and engineering trades not further defined or elsewhere classified |
24% |
76% |
|
(0711) Chemical engineering and processes |
42% |
58% |
|
(0712) Environmental protection technology |
23% |
77% |
|
(0713) Electricity and energy |
7% |
93% |
|
(0714) Electronics and automation |
10% |
90% |
|
(0715) Mechanics and metal trades |
8% |
92% |
|
(0716) Motor vehicles, ships and aircraft |
11% |
89% |
|
(0720) Manufacturing and processing not further defined or elsewhere classified |
26% |
74% |
|
(0721) Food processing |
65% |
35% |
|
(0722) Materials (glass, paper, plastic and wood) |
14% |
86% |
|
(0723) Textiles (clothes, footwear and leather) |
100% |
0% |
|
(0730) Architecture and construction not further defined or elsewhere classified |
22% |
78% |
|
(0731) Architecture and town planning |
40% |
60% |
|
(0732) Building and civil engineering |
12% |
88% |
|
(0788) Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving engineering, manufacturing and construction |
6% |
94% |
|
Generic programmes and qualifications |
59% |
41% |
|
(0011) Basic programmes and qualifications |
61% |
39% |
|
(0021) Literacy and numeracy |
44% |
56% |
|
(0031) Personal skills and development |
59% |
41% |
|
Health and welfare |
76% |
24% |
|
(0910) Health not further defined or elsewhere classified |
72% |
28% |
|
(0911) Dental studies |
73% |
27% |
|
(0912) Medicine |
56% |
44% |
|
(0913) Nursing and midwifery |
90% |
10% |
|
(0914) Medical diagnostic and treatment technology |
68% |
32% |
|
(0915) Therapy and rehabilitation |
70% |
30% |
|
(0916) Pharmacy |
74% |
26% |
|
(0920) Welfare not further defined or elsewhere classified |
73% |
27% |
|
(0921) Care of the elderly and of disabled adults |
84% |
16% |
|
(0922) Child care and youth services |
90% |
10% |
|
(0923) Social work and counselling |
80% |
20% |
|
(0988) Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving health and welfare |
0% |
100% |
|
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) |
20% |
80% |
|
(0610) Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) not further defined or elsewhere classified |
22% |
78% |
|
(0611) Computer use |
16% |
84% |
|
(0612) Database and network design and administration |
22% |
78% |
|
(0613) Software and applications development and analysis |
18% |
82% |
|
(0688) Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) |
79% |
21% |
|
Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics |
51% |
49% |
|
(0510) Biological and related sciences not further defined or elsewhere classified |
55% |
45% |
|
(0511) Biology |
63% |
37% |
|
(0512) Biochemistry |
64% |
36% |
|
(0520) Environment not further defined or elsewhere classified |
55% |
45% |
|
(0521) Environmental sciences |
46% |
54% |
|
(0522) Natural environments and wildlife |
55% |
45% |
|
(0530) Physical sciences not further defined or elsewhere classified |
49% |
51% |
|
(0531) Chemistry |
51% |
49% |
|
(0532) Earth sciences |
48% |
52% |
|
(0533) Physics |
23% |
77% |
|
(0540) Mathematics and statistics not further defined or elsewhere classified |
27% |
73% |
|
(0541) Mathematics |
27% |
73% |
|
(0542) Statistics |
41% |
59% |
|
(0588) Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving natural sciences, mathematics and statistics |
55% |
45% |
|
Services |
44% |
56% |
|
(1010) Personal services not further defined or elsewhere classified |
70% |
30% |
|
(1013) Hotel, restaurants and catering |
58% |
42% |
|
(1014) Sports |
31% |
69% |
|
(1015) Travel, tourism and leisure |
69% |
31% |
|
(1022) Occupational health and safety |
42% |
58% |
|
(1030) Security services not further defined or elsewhere classified |
13% |
87% |
|
(1031) Military and defence |
8% |
92% |
|
(1032) Protection of persons and property |
22% |
78% |
|
(1041) Transport services |
10% |
90% |
|
Social sciences, journalism and information |
62% |
38% |
|
(0310) Social and behavioural sciences not further defined or elsewhere classified |
65% |
35% |
|
(0311) Economics |
35% |
65% |
|
(0312) Political sciences and civics |
52% |
48% |
|
(0313) Psychology |
71% |
29% |
|
(0314) Sociology and cultural studies |
68% |
32% |
|
(0320) Journalism and information not further defined or elsewhere classified |
67% |
33% |
|
(0321) Journalism and reporting |
59% |
41% |
|
(0322) Library, information and archival studies |
65% |
35% |
|
(0388) Interdisciplinary programmes and qualifications involving social sciences, journalism and information |
0% |
100% |
|
Total |
53% |
47% |
