Traditionally male-dominated, forest engineering has seen a notable rise in women’s involvement in both education and the profession. University education is a pivotal phase where students develop professional identities and form perceptions about their future careers. For women students, experiences gained during this phase are significant not only for individual career planning but also for promoting gender equality, enhancing sectoral diversity, and increasing the visibility of women engineers within the profession. However, scientific studies addressing women students’ perceptions of the profession, their reasons for choosing it, and their expectations remain limited. This study aims to examine the perspectives of women undergraduate students in the Department of Forest Engineering at Bursa Technical University, Türkiye, on the profession, their views on acquiring professional competencies, and their perceptions of gender inequality both during their studies and throughout their future careers. Additionally, the study explores male students' perceptions on these issues. A survey form was designed based on literature and expert input, covering four areas: (i) student profiles and choice motivations, (ii) views on the profession and career, (iii) opinions on developing professional skills, and (iv) perceptions of gender inequality in the profession. The survey was conducted with 176 students of different year groups. Descriptive analyses and difference tests were applied to the collected data. Key findings indicate that 15.7% of women students chose the department due to family influence, 71.1% perceive greater challenges for women in the sector, and 54.2% believe women must exert more effort to secure employment.
저자
Bekircan BALCI [ Forestry Engineering Department, Forestry Faculty, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Türkiye ]
Corresponding Author
Murat KÖSE [ Forestry Engineering Department, Forestry Faculty, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Türkiye ]
