Literature-Based Practices for Designing Female-Inclusive Software Engineering and Computer Science Programs

Abstract

Gender imbalance in Software Engineering (SE) and Computer Science (CS) is a global issue. For years, these fields were male-dominant, affecting the way society perceived these careers. Girls who feel the unwelcoming atmosphere of the computer technology industry and do not receive support in choosing SE and CS education tend to choose more traditional “female” careers. One way to solve this problem is to make SE and CS education more welcoming for a female audience. To achieve that, universities and other higher education institutions need to make changes in the program design and promotion to potential applicants. This study aims to collect practices for attracting more women and achieving better gender balance in SE and CS tertiary education. We conducted a literature review of 49 studies. As a result, we identified thirteen initiatives that could be implemented at promotion, university, program, and course levels.