Istanbul Kültür University (IKU) launched the Dengeni Koru Social Equality Platform in order to raise public awareness against prejudices regarding professions and gender. Speaking about the subject, our Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe, Dean of Engineering Faculty, stated that she observed the effects of prejudices in university and department preferences, especially in engineering branches. prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe said, “As of March 2022, the rate of female students in our university is 45 percent, while this rate is around 23 percent for engineering students. I think that our girls do not choose the engineering profession mainly for two reasons. The first of these is the family effect, while the second is the lack of role models.”

Families Should Be Aware of Profession and Prejudices

Referring to the impact of his point of view that the engineering profession is very difficult and tiring, our Dean made a statement on “Families direct their daughters to professions that they think are more comfortable and easier. On the other hand, the low number of female engineers who will be role models and their inability to (be) in the foreground are also important reasons. Both universities and non-governmental organizations have important duties in removing social prejudices. In order to raise awareness of families and increase the interest of girls in the engineering profession, informative seminars should be organized to introduce professions and promotions should be made to bring successful female role models in engineering to the foreground.”

Engineering Profession Should Be Introduced at an Early Age

Stating that the events that bring together successful female engineers at the beginning of high school education, will be effective in breaking the prejudices against engineering branches, Prof. Dr. Fadime Üney Yüksektepe said the following about the mission of enterprises in this regard: 

“Several government incentives and advantages to be given to companies that employ female engineers will also positively affect the attitudes of companies in this direction. In this way, the increasing demand for female engineers in the business world will increase the awareness of girls about choosing this profession.”