Logo do repositório
 
Publicação

Why do women pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Science?

2025-08-25Artigo científico Acesso aberto
Ver registo simples
dc.contributor.authorÁbrahám, Erika
dc.contributor.authorGoulão, Miguel
dc.contributor.authorJaničić, Milena Vujošević
dc.contributor.authorDelany, Sarah Jane
dc.contributor.authorMersni, Amal
dc.contributor.authorYeremenko, Oleksandra
dc.contributor.authorBüyükdağlı, Özge
dc.contributor.authorBoudaoud, Karima
dc.contributor.authorOehlhorn, Caroline
dc.contributor.authorSchmid, Ute
dc.contributor.authorBüsing, Christina
dc.contributor.authorBolke-Hermanns, Helen
dc.contributor.authorKöhnle, Kaja
dc.contributor.authorPato, Matilde
dc.contributor.authorCerci, Deniz Sunar
dc.contributor.authorSchmid, Larissa
dc.contributor.institutionNOVALincs
dc.contributor.institutionDI - Departamento de Informática
dc.contributor.pblElsevier
dc.date.accessioned2026-03-09T11:16:01Z
dc.date.available2026-03-09T11:16:01Z
dc.date.issued2025-08-25
dc.descriptionFunding Information: This work was supported by COST Action CA19122 - EUGAIN (European Network for Gender Balance in Informatics). The authors also acknowledge the financial support by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development, and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, grant number 451-03-47/2023-01/ 200104, the support from UID/04516/NOVA Laboratory for Computer Science and Informatics (NOVA LINCS) with the financial support of FCT.IP, and by the pilot program Core Informatics at KIT (KiKIT) of the Helmholtz Association (HGF). Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors
dc.description.abstractContext: Computer science, even now, attracts a small number of women, and the proportion of women in the field decreases through advancing career stages. Consequently, few women progress to Ph.D. studies in computer science after completing master's studies. Empowering women at this stage in their careers is essential, not just for equality reasons, but to unlock untapped potential for society, industry and academia. Objective: This paper aims to identify students’ career assumptions and information related to Ph.D. studies focused on gender-based differences. We propose a program to inform female master students about Ph.D. studies that explains the process, clarifies misconceptions, and alleviates concerns. Method: An extensive survey was conducted to identify factors that encourage and discourage students from undertaking Ph.D. studies. The analysis identified statistically significant differences between those who undertook Ph.D. studies and those who did not, as well as statistically significant gender differences. A catalogue of questions to initiate discussions with potential Ph.D. students which allowed them to explore these factors was developed. These were structured into a Women's Career Lunch program where students can explore and discuss the benefits of Ph.D. study. Results: Encouraging factors towards Ph.D. study include interest and confidence in research arising from a research involvement during earlier studies; enthusiasm for and self-confidence in computer science in addition to an interest in an academic career; encouragement from external sources; and a positive perception towards Ph.D. studies which can involve achieving personal goals. Discouraging factors include uncertainty and lack of knowledge of the Ph.D. process, a perception of lower job flexibility, and the requirement for long-term commitment. Gender differences highlighted that female students who pursue a Ph.D. have less confidence in their technical skills than males but a higher preference for interdisciplinary areas. Female students are less inclined than males to perceive the industry as offering better job opportunities and more flexible career paths than academia. Conclusions: The insights collected from the survey facilitated the development of a questions catalogue structured into the Women Career Lunch program to help students make a more informed decision concerning whether they should pursue a Ph.D. in computer science. Localised versions of this program, in 8 languages, were created to support its adoption in different countries and assist in mitigating the female under-representation challenge.en
dc.description.versionpublishersversion
dc.description.versionepub_ahead_of_print
dc.format.extent27
dc.format.extent4364628
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.jss.2025.112586
dc.identifier.issn0164-1212
dc.identifier.otherPURE: 128865183
dc.identifier.otherPURE UUID: df25acc0-3301-4d29-8f92-d0e7514e453a
dc.identifier.otherScopus: 105014260481
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10362/201108
dc.identifier.urlhttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105014260481
dc.language.isoeng
dc.peerreviewedyes
dc.relationinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/Avaliação UID 2023%2F2024/UID%2F04516%2F2025/PT
dc.subjectComputer science education
dc.subjectFemale under-representation
dc.subjectGender
dc.subjectPh.D. career path
dc.subjectPh.D. challenges and opportunities
dc.subjectSoftware
dc.subjectInformation Systems
dc.subjectHardware and Architecture
dc.titleWhy do women pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Science?en
dc.typejournal article
degois.publication.titleJournal of Systems and Software
degois.publication.volume231
dspace.entity.typePublication
rcaap.rightsopenAccess

Ficheiros

Principais
A mostrar 1 - 1 de 1
Miniatura
Nome:
_brah_m_E._et_al._2025._Why_do_women_pursue_a_Ph.D._in_Computer_Science..pdf
Tamanho:
4.16 MB
Formato:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Ver/Abrir

Coleções

Home collection (FCT)