International Women in Engineering Day 2024: Surge in Female Tech Learners

International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), celebrated on June 23, honors the achievements of women engineers and encourages more girls and women to pursue engineering careers. This day highlights the critical contributions of women in engineering and underscores the need for gender diversity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Coursera's recent data reveals significant progress made by women learners in India over the past five years. From Q1 2019 to Q1 2024, the proportion of women enrolled in courses has grown from 25 percent to 35 percent. This increase is particularly notable in STEM courses, where women's participation has risen from 22 percent to 32 percent.

Additionally, women's enrollment in professional certification programs, essential for tech industry careers, has nearly doubled. Entry-level professional certificate enrollments by women have jumped from 19 percent to 35 percent, and in STEM-specific certifications, from 19 percent to 33 percent.

This upward trend reflects a broader movement towards greater female participation in tech, spurred by improved access to education, targeted outreach programs, and a growing emphasis on diversity in engineering and technology.

Popular tech courses among women in India from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, include:

- Introduction to Generative AI by Google Cloud

- Foundations of Cybersecurity by Google

- Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design by Google

- Crash Course on Python by Google

- HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for Web Developers by Johns Hopkins University

- Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) by University of Michigan

- Generative AI with Large Language Models by Amazon Web Services and DeepLearning.AI

- Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate by Google

- Algorithms, Part I by Princeton University

- Introduction to Front-End Development by Meta

These courses reflect diverse interests and skills, from foundational programming and cybersecurity to advanced fields like generative AI and UX design. The popularity of courses from top tech companies and prestigious universities highlights the high-quality education accessible to these learners.

The significant rise in women's enrollments in tech courses signals a positive trend. As more women gain essential skills and credentials in STEM fields, they are set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology and innovation in India and beyond.