Sponsored by Concordia University

Despite widespread concerns about the number of women working in STEM fields, recruiting women to STEM programs at university isn’t as much of a struggle as you might assume. In Canada, for instance, the number of women enrolling to STEM courses is growing, with press releases published by the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto last year revealing record-high numbers of up to 30 percent.

While there are more and more women studying STEM subjects at university, very few of them end up working in STEM-related careers. Indeed, even though the number of women filling in university-level posts has risen to 65 percent since 1991, the proportion of women in scientific jobs requiring a college degree is still at 23 percent, according to official 2016 data. Only 12 percent of Canada’s engineers are women.

In light of these facts, what are the challenges women face when they decide to pursue a STEM education? And what can universities do to encourage more women to remain and thrive in STEM fields? 

We asked PhD student Bettina Forget and assistant professor Layial El-Hadi to weigh in on these questions.

The STEM gender brain drain

Gender bias is pervasive in STEM fields. Women who embark on careers in science often feel isolated, that they need to constantly prove themselves, and are required to fill traditionally female roles in labs and offices. Studies consistently show that these prejudices exist and are even more common for women of color.  

For instance, in a 2014 study endorsed by the University of California, Columbia University and Emory University, all of the sixty female scientists of color they interviewed reported encountering one or more pattern of gender bias at work, including “having to provide more evidence of competence than men in order to be seen as equally competent”, “walking a tightrope between being seen as too feminine to be competent—or too masculine to be likable” and “gender bias triggered by motherhood”.

Layial El-Hadi, an assistant professor at the Centre for Engineering in Society at Concordia University and Program Director of the Graduate Certificate in Innovation Technology and Society, recognizes the issue. She notes that even if there are more women pursuing STEM degrees, they often leave their fields after graduation.

“There seems to be a disconnect. Women students might often be first of their class, but they remain hard to find when we look at the workforce.”

One recent survey found only 12 percent of full professors in STEM in Canada are female, providing students with few female mentors.

Forget, who just started her PhD in art education at Concordia University in Montreal, echoes the experience. She developed an interest in astronomy around 15 years ago, while she was working abroad. “I was struck at how male-dominated the amateur astronomy clubs were,” she recalls. “Parents would often push their daughters my way to talk to me.”

This underrepresentation is quite common in the scientific community. The doctoral student sees this as a fundamental problem. “It’s hard to become interested in a subject when you don’t have any role models to associate with.”

Are women being blocked from careers in STEM?

So, what’s turning women away? One issue is the unconscious bias recruiters often show in female applicants. One study found that science faculty members who were given student applications which were randomly assigned a male or female name felt the application made under a male name was stronger. Another study found that men and women were twice as likely to recruit a man for a role involving math, even if a female candidate possessed identical math skills. It’s no surprise some women would prefer to avoid battling this discrimination and seek employment elsewhere.

El-Hadi believes that globally, we are not moving as fast as we could, mainly because of one thing: mindset.

While her personal approach has been to “bulldoze through the barriers”, she also believes that women need to be more aware of their own power. “We have to learn accountability and ownership of our own success early on as we tackle prejudices against us”.

“The real solution only comes if we start building awareness from a young age – in boys and in girls – on the issues women face professionally and personally,” she adds.

What universities need to do to help 

To tackle these issues, many institutions are taking steps to hire more female STEM faculty members, something both Forget and El-Hadi agree is a step in the right direction- and on that front, intersectionality is key.

In 2016, the proportion of women in full-time engineering faculty posts in Canada was 14.9 percent, a 1.5 percent rise since 2012.

Although this is good news, there’s a long way to go before equality is reached. “There needs to be a serious conversation about the hiring process,” says El-Hadi. “Universities can lead the way by being more inclusive not just in terms of gender, but also in terms of diversity.”

Creating new interdisciplinary playing fields

Other than hiring more women, universities can combat gender-biased practices by creating new research playing fields. This can be achieved, notably, through innovative interdisciplinary approaches.

“Universities are great test beds,” says Forget. “Postgraduate studies encourage you to create projects where categories are dismantled. Labels become irrelevant, whether you are a physicist or a painter, the focus shifts to research and experimentation.”

Now, Forget has returned to her early interest in science and is using her doctoral project to look at how we can disrupt the stereotypes that stop women from entering the STEM fields by fusing art and science. She focuses on the use of collaborative spaces, such as makerspaces, to dissolve those categories.

She is also involved with the Convergence Initiative, which connects Concordia fine arts students with neuroscientists from McGill’s Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program in order to spark more exchanges between artists and scientists.

“There is still work to be done,” she concludes, “but institutions can facilitate it by helping us break down boundaries, be they rooted in gender or disciplinary stereotypes.”

Concordia University is a comprehensive university located in downtown Montreal, voted 2017 World’s Best Student City.

Image credit © Concordia University

Sponsored by SOAS  

As some first-time business travelers have learned the hard way, business customs don’t always translate overseas. If you’re brokering a deal or readying for a job, insufficient command of business etiquette abroad could cost you and your organization a business opportunity. Fortunately we can help: from the concept of “saving of face” in Asia to handshakes, you might want to avoid common pitfalls when doing business abroad with our top tips.

Gift-giving: the dos and don’ts

The exchange of business gifts is an important ritual in many countries, where they can be seen as a gesture of goodwill, a symbolic way to say “thank you” and cement business relationships. But superstitions and traditions can often muddy the waters for first-time travelers bewildered by the many layers of complexity in another culture.  

Gift-giving etiquette is not the same wherever you go, so take stock of local business traditions before you invest in a hamper. In China, for example, it’s considered poor taste to give clocks, watches, or fours of anything (the number is considered bad luck). If traveling to Malaysia, you’d be better off not wrapping up your gift in the color white (as it symbolizes death) and avoiding alcohol gifts or anything made from pork, particularly if your client is ethnic Malay. Generally, inexpensive gifts from your home country or functional items like pens and office accessories are looked on favorably.

In Singapore, the recipient is expected to decline up to three times before accepting it, while in Chile, gifts are accepted and opened straight away. The concept of “saving face” in Japan might mean that the recipient doesn’t open the gift immediately, but saves it for later, to avoid causing you embarrassment if they open it and don’t like it. Another thing to bear in mind: in some countries, it’s considered the height of rudeness to present or accept a gift with only one hand, so always use both.  

Of course, gift-giving is not a business custom everywhere in the world, particularly in Australia, France, Hungary, Italy, England, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan or the United States, where your gift might be misconstrued as a bribe.

Stack the business cards in your favor

Like corporate gifts, business cards are best handed out and accepted with both hands and a slight bow, if possible. In Japan, for example, the exchange of business cards (meishi) is a heavily codified process - not a mere sliding of cards across the conference table. When accepting a business card, treat it with as much care you would your future job prospects, so don’t crumple it by cramming it into a coat pocket.

Behind every successful deal is a culturally-sensitive introduction

Handshakes are not as widespread as you might think. In some countries, they’re much less common, if not avoided altogether. So it might be a good idea to wait for the other person to initiate an introduction, whether it’s a cheek to cheek air-kiss, as is common in Belgium and France, or a slight bow, as might be the case in Japan.  

Of course, different countries favour different levels of formality. In France, for example, when meeting a person for the first time, it’s always a good idea to address him or her as monsieur or madame, introducing yourself with your full name. Always, always, use the plural form of “you” in French (vous) until instructed otherwise by your interlocutor. And remember: if you can’t speak any French, apologize out of courtesy.

Demystify international business practices at SOAS

With a campus in Euston in central London, SOAS attracts students from all over the world, with over 133 nationalities represented on campus. Many of the courses offered by SOAS are angled toward an international perspective. Their MSc in International Management, which can be taken with a focus on either China, Japan, Korea, Japan and Korea, the Middle East and North Africa or South East Asia - with an optional Year Abroad in most cases - will teach you international business strategy and how to manage a transnational corporation. On the MSc, you will gain the specialist skills and know-how you need to take on a leading management role at a multinational operating around the world.

Sponsored by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hospitality is the largest employment sector in the world, according to a report from last year by Ernst & Young, but it doesn’t take in-depth analysis to look around and see it’s a booming and highly profitable sector. With stable growth predicted for the next few decades and many highly lucrative specializations, ranging from food and beverages to sustainable hotels and adventure tourism, this is a highly attractive area to build a career in.

If you’re hoping to break into the hospitality industry - whether it’s because you’re passionate about high-end hotels or possess unparalleled people skills - you probably already know that there are two sides to the industry: front-line operations, which include things like food and guest service, and business management. There are many opportunities on the corporate side too, in areas like market analysis, press relations, human resources or digital marketing.

To help you figure out your next career steps, we spoke to the experts running The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s renowned School of Hotel and Tourism Management to give you the very best advice on how to get ahead in the industry. 

1. Find your niche specialization and master it 

The hospitality and tourism industry is very broad, with many different subsets and niche  specializations with their own very unique skillsets. Narrowing these down to a niche interest could save you a great deal of time. If, for example, your ambition is to manage a five-star hotel chain or a luxury resort, why not email one to enquire about any internships or apprenticeships they offer?

Of course, doing a bachelor’s degree in a specialist field, such as hotel management, would give you a head-start. Other specializations may include things like tourism management, convention and event management, global hospitality or even wine management. Discover other amazing specializations here. 

2. A simple change of scenery could transform your life

When it comes to hospitality, being a small fish in a big pond can definitely be an asset, so don’t hesitate to jump at any opportunity to move abroad or to a bigger city where you might be likely to have more impact.

Moving abroad could also be a way to tap into an emerging market. China will have surpassed the US hospitality industry in absolute industry growth as early as 2019, according to the Deloitte’s Hospitality 2015 report. To tap into this business opportunity, why not research the needs of Asian consumers at a university in the region, like The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s acclaimed School of Hotel and Tourism Management? Having an international edge would certainly give you an enormous advantage over other job applicants, especially in a global industry like hospitality.

3. Teach yourself social media skills 

From mobile check-ins to digital concierges, mobile technologies have already revolutionized the hospitality and tourism industry. Industry leaders are incorporating social media and apps into their marketing toolkit, with most businesses trying to find new ways to deliver value to customers. So, it might be a good idea to teach yourself new online skills like social media content curation, data analytics or even how to manage customer feedback online, as most roles in the industry are as likely to require expertise in these areas as they are to call for traditional service skills.

Experiment with different social media tools like Hootsuite, TweetDeck or Buffer and get comfortable with analyzing how audiences are interacting with content posted on social media. Also, familiarize yourself with other aspects of the digital world, such as media auditing and blogging. You don’t need to have thousands of followers to get a job in hospitality, but hospitality is very much affected by social trends which affect consumer behavior. Stay ahead of the curve, and understand how to leverage different platforms to reach out to consumers.

4. Your college bartending experience won’t get you a job

Don’t assume that a part-time job you had in high school or university is sufficient work experience to break into the hospitality sector. Look into getting hotel or tourism managerial experience and demand to be shown all the different areas of the business. Enthusiasm is often the one key attributes in the sector. If you can demonstrate enough interest in doing a particular role, you're likely to be given the freedom to develop yourself in that area.

5. Consider enrolling in further study

There are many routes into hospitality management and education is one of them. Many graduates choose further study as a way to get their foot in the door and specialize in a particular area of hospitality. If that sounds like something you might be interested in, you can search for the best bachelor’s, MScs, D.HTM and PhDs in hospitality here.  

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s online program, their MicroMasters in International Hospitality Management, is often seen as a fast track to their on-campus MSc in International Hospitality Management.

Sponsored by IULM

Originally from Turkey, I’ve always been drawn to Europe, especially Italy. Having picked up a bit of Spanish and English in high school, I moved to Milan four years ago, my International Baccalaureate in hand. I set myself the totally insane goal of learning to speak, understand and write Italian like a native Milanese in less than a year, and, believe it or not, I succeeded! I learned to read, write and carry out a conversation in Italian almost like a native speaker.  

A year later, I was enrolled at the Milanese university IULM to study a bachelor’s degree in Communications, Advertising and Media, all in Italian. And while my life in Milan so far couldn’t have been more exciting and rewarding, knowing a few things earlier definitely would have made my life a lot easier.

Learning Italian is a lot easier once you’re here

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Now, you might not need to learn Italian to study in Italy because some universities, including IULM, offer master’s programs instructed in English. However, knowing the language makes your experience a lot more enjoyable, and it’s an easy language to learn.  

Thanks to a fairly intense year of language training, my classmates and I learned Italian fairly rapidly. My course at Scuola Leonardo da Vinci started in October 2014, and by June 2015, most of us mastered C1 Italian. Of course, what made it a lot easier for us is the immersion aspect. You’re constantly hearing and speaking Italian in shops, on the bus, in the street and when with friends, which trains your ear without almost any effort from your part.

Brace. Yourself. For. The. Paperwork

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Like most expats living in Italy, the bureaucracy is my least favourite thing about living in Milan, but it’s nothing that can’t be defeated if you come prepared and ask for help. When you apply for a stay permit, fiscal code and health insurance, you have to make sure you bring all of the documents with you. In my experience, clerks tend to be very helpful, and I’ve had people from one department help me with administrative procedures in a completely different one.  

Don’t worry too much about applying for health insurance and a stay permit on your own though because your university’s International Students Guidance Office should be able to help you tackle bureaucratic issues. 

Carry an Italian language pocketbook on your person until you are fluent

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While most people in big cities such as Milan will speak English, you  may find yourself in difficulty if you can’t speak the language and want to travel in the countryside (which you definitely should do by the way, it’s absolutely gorgeous). I once found myself stranded on the outskirts of Milan and no one could help me because they didn’t speak a word of English. Obviously this is a fairly extraordinary circumstance, so you’re unlikely to have exactly the same issue, but it’s worth remembering before going on any day trips.

Milan’s a buzzing cosmopolis with new stuff to do everyday

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I love fashion, so much so that my claim to fame is that I once had lunch with a former designer for Prada. So, obviously I already suspected before moving here that Milan was going to be a fashionable place. What I didn’t expect was the broad range of things to do in the city every day, from art and culture to nights out, as well as the sheer number of work opportunities you can access through IULM.

Getting around Milan and the country will be easier than you think

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One of my friends is interested in art, and she often visits different museums in Milan and other parts of the country on the weekend. Transportation in Italy is very convenient and affordable, so if you’re desperate to see a bit more of Italy than your university campus, I would definitely recommend that you get on a train and explore because your course will be over before you know it.

You won’t be left to fend for yourself in Milan 

Obviously, this will largely depend on the university itself. At IULM, I’ve found that I always had a safety net I could rely on, thanks in part to their international office open Monday to Friday, their big notice board with messages for international students, their internships and placement department, their bookshop, printing center, and their multimedia and audiovisuals room. In addition, all teachers have office hours so you can visit them outside of class if you have any personal issues you’d like to discuss with them privately.

Melis spoke to a member of the TopUniversities team for this sponsored article.