Professional Identity Of Female Engineering Graduates: An Exploration Of Identity Status Through Life History Research

Natascha Van Hattum-Janssen, Maaike D. Endedijk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The number of students entering engineering programmes is too low to meet the need for engineering graduates. Still, many leave for jobs outside the technical sector right after graduation. Professional identity is a concept that helps to explain why they stay in or leave the technical sector (Cech 2014). It is the result of the process of professional socialisation. This study uses life history research to understand the professional socialisation of engineering graduates from kindergarten age until a few years after graduation. An analysis of the life experiences of male and female engineering graduates shows differences in how they describe moments of choice, reflecting different professional identity statuses of male and female graduates.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1416-1424
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean Society for Engineering Education (SEFI)
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • engineering programmes
  • engineering graduates
  • professional identity
  • professional socialisation
  • life history research
  • technical sector
  • male and female graduates
  • Professional socialisation

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