Assessment of policy-society interface to increase female participation: A study of aerospace engineering in the Maldives

Afaal, Shaiha; Bakthavatchaalam, Venkat

Abstract

This study aims to identify and analyse the various factors leading to low female participation in Maldivian aerospace industry and discuss the policies required to improve this sector. Using a qualitative method, data from both male and female aerospace engineers were collected and content analysis was used to identify themes. The results show a range of barriers influencing Maldivian women to study and participate in aerospace engineering. How the society tended to generalise all types of engineering which resulted in several misconceptions around the aerospace industry was seen. The research discusses how to improve the education and engineering policies and its interface with the Maldivian society. This work would be of use to engineering educators, policy makers and education institutions to change their practices to increase gender equity in this area. It focusses on SDG 4, 5, 8 and 10.

• Report Type: Policy Document
• Online Publication Date: May 3, 2023
• Publication Date: May 3, 2023
• Deposit Date: May 5, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 9, 2023
• Pages: 1-5
• Series Title: Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals
• Keywords: Policy-society interface; female participation; aerospace engineering; Maldives
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10745402
• Publisher URL: https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/B74%20-%20Afaal%20-%20Assessment%20of%20policy-society%20interface%20to%20increase%20female%20participation.pdf
• Related Public URLs: https://sdgs.un.org/