Although there are regular calls from politicians and society for the advancement of women, women remain under-represented in academia and large parts of the business sector. This is reflected in horizontal and vertical segregation and also affects economically significant science and technology sectors, as well as start-ups. When it comes to the reasons for the under-representation of women, our understanding of the impact of practical measures to promote women is very limited. A comprehensive examination of the spectrum from school education through to careers in STEM fields and the sector itself as an organisational context in Saxony is therefore necessary.
The results and recommendations for action arising from this project aim to expand the recruitment and training potential for women in STEM professions. Untapped potential for the Saxon labour market is to be identified, which will help to secure the next generation of skilled workers in this field.
As part of this interdisciplinary research project involving several higher education institutions and universities in Saxony (TU Dresden, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Hochschule Mittweida, and Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz), the TRAWOS Institute is conducting a systemic analysis of the context of women's advancement using the Soft Systems Methodology in order to identify effective leverage points for organizational action and derive appropriate measures. In addition, the broader societal context of gender disparities in the state of Saxony will be examined, taking the higher education system as the starting point and incorporating other relevant systems, including businesses and regional network structures.
