The construction industry is traditionally considered a male-dominated industry, but attracting women is key to overcoming the talent shortage and ensuring innovation and gender equality. In the Ukrainian context, where reconstruction is ongoing and there is an urgent need for qualified personnel, developing effective methodologies for training girls becomes strategically important.
Among the main methodological approaches, the following should be highlighted. The first of them is the formation of an emphasis on STEM education during early career guidance to attract girls and women to work in the construction sector.
STEM education ( Science , Technology , Engineering , Mathematics ) helps to overcome stereotypes and show that the construction industry requires not only “physical strength”, but also intelligence, innovation and creativity. All these skills are developed through STEM. In doing so , it is often used practical and game activities. Early career guidance is formed taking into account interactivity and motivation, which contributes to the formation of skills for applying knowledge in practical situations.
During design and engineering workshops, participants are offered construction tasks using improvised materials ( creating models of bridges, skyscrapers or energy-efficient buildings, etc.) from improvised materials (sticks, spaghetti, Lego or cardboard). Completing such tasks allows students to combine knowledge of physics, mathematics and engineering, forming a relevant structure, which will allow them to perform calculations for strength and stability, determine loads, apply trigonometry and design.
At Lutsk National Technical University, the development of STEM education is implemented within the framework of the activities of the Children’s University https://lntu.edu.ua/uk/media/dytyachyy-universytet-2024-yak-v-lntu-poyednaly-nauku-ta-rozvahy . In addition, teachers and employees of the university take an active part in Scientific Picnics, which are held together with the Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine https://suspilne.media/lutsk/1109058-bilse-lokacij-na-vijskovu-tematiku-u-lucku-vidbulisa-11-naukovi-pikniki/ .
In addition, the use of simple kits for programming robots that perform various, in particular, construction tasks: moving loads, laying “bricks”, etc. allows girls to increase their interest in areas that were previously purely male.
LNTU teachers: Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Science Nina Zdolbitska , in cooperation with the Small Academy of Sciences, as part of the work of the robotics club, introduces students to technologies and computer modeling https://www.facebook.com/volynskaoblasnaman/photos/d41d8cd9/1254294796706724/ .
Another methodological approach is based on the principles of using visualization and role models. It is important to show that the construction industry is not only about workers on the site, but also a variety of intellectual, managerial and design professions where women have already achieved success.
LNTU holds meetings with women professionals, which allows you to be inspired by their success and communicate openly during these events https://lntu.edu.ua/uk/media/istoriya-stvorennya-ta-uspikhu-domum-group-zasnovnytsya-studiyi-yuliya-rohozhyna-v-lntu . This destroys stereotypes that only men can achieve success in the construction industry.
In addition, the presentation of information on the university website about the works of LNTU students majoring in “Architecture”, in particular, in the discipline “Architectural Design of Hotel Buildings” ( https://lntu.edu.ua/uk/media/publichnyy-zakhyst-kursovykh-robit-studentiv-hrupy-am-22 ) contributes to the formation of motivation in adolescents.
Also, the success of LNTU students https://lntu.edu.ua/uk/media/proyekt-studentiv-lntu-viziya-vidbudovy-avdiyivky-peremih-v-mizhnarodnomu-konkursi inspires teenage girls to study construction specialties.
The third methodological approach is based on the principle of integrating STEM with the real world. At LNTU, it is used to form the principles of applying STEM skills to solving socially important and global problems in construction. Such approaches are implemented during the study of educational components of the specialties “Construction” and “Electrical Power Engineering” by students. At the same time, LNTU teachers emphasize the study of the basic principles of ecological construction https://lntu.edu.ua/uk/media/buduvaty-enerhoefektyvno-buduvaty-ekolohichno-vseukrayinskyy-naukovyy-seminar-na-kafedri-btsi . During the study of academic disciplines and conducting scientific seminars, projects are considered taking into account their energy efficiency, as well as the use of alternative energy sources: solar panels, windmills, etc., and ecological materials. This appeals to the interest of girls in issues of sustainable development and nature protection.
At LNTU, the educational environment is created taking into account the principle of comfort and inclusion https://lntu.edu.ua/uk/riznomanitnist-ta-inklyuziya . Students of the Design specialty are involved in the development of these projects. This develops creativity and design thinking in students.
In addition, at LNTU, students carry out research projects on the analysis of the strength, efficiency and optimality of the use of various building materials in the Scientific Research Building Laboratory https://lntu.edu.ua/uk/naukovo-doslidna-budivelna-laboratoriya .
All these approaches allow girls to transform construction from a difficult “male” job into an innovative, high-tech, and creative field that requires a strong STEM foundation.
Olena Mikulich , professor
Lutsk National Technical University
This project has been co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
