Voices of Female Informatics Students Across Universities

Abstract

The underrepresentation of women in Informatics can lead to perceptions of potential challenges and concerns among female students. How do these students perceive the challenges they may encounter? How does this perception influence their decisions about pursuing a PhD in Informatics? In this chapter, we discuss these challenges and the opportunities the female PhD students experience, presenting them from their perspectives. Additionally, considering the “leaky pipeline” phenomenon, which causes even further attrition in the higher education pipeline, we incorporate the viewpoints of both bachelor’s and master’s students regarding pursuing a PhD in Informatics. Using a mixed-methods approach, we draw on their experiences to extract valuable lessons on successfully navigating the process of studying for a PhD. These lessons include (1) identifying encouraging and discouraging factors influencing the decision to enrol in a PhD in Informatics and (2) sharing the first-person, relatable testimonies that can help prospective and current female PhD students in Informatics. In addition to these critical insights on the challenges and motivations faced by female students in Informatics, we also offer practical recommendations for academic institutions to enhance female representation in PhD programmes.