Fostering the Empowerment of Female Students Enrolled in Construction-related Study Programs

Christina Liem

Abstract


This research is part of a larger initiative focused on promoting women's empowerment within the construction industry, a sector historically dominated by men, where female representation remains insufficient. The primary aim of the study is to increase the presence of professional women in the construction field by encouraging higher enrolment of women in construction-related study programs in Indonesia. This study explores the expectations of female students who choose to enrol in these programs and identifies the factors that motivate their decisions. By examining these expectations and motivations, the research proposes strategies to attract more female students to construction-related programs, ultimately facilitating their transition into the construction industry upon graduation. In the short term, the study aims to enhance women's participation in university-level construction programs while contributing to the theoretical development of the Quadruple Helix Engagement Model (QHEM) within the realm of construction-related education. Adopting a qualitative approach, this research utilizes semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to present its findings. The findings indicate that the primary expectation of female students enrolling in construction-related programs is the implementation of an Industrial-Centric (IC) Curriculum, and this study reveals their perspectives on the IC curriculum. The content of the Industrial-Centric (IC) curriculum for construction-related study programs represents a novel contribution of this research. Additionally, key motivations for female students to enter construction-related programs include parental guidance and a positive perception of the construction industry. These findings highlight the need for higher education institutions to collaborate with the construction industry to attract more female students to enrol in construction-related academic programs.

Keywords


Women’s Empowerment; Construction; Quadruple Helix Engagement Model; Qualitative Approach; Indonesia.

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33021/firm.v9i2.5543

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