Female Under-Representation in Computing Education and Industry - A Survey of Issues and Interventions

This survey paper examines the issue of female under-representation in computing education and industry, which has been shown from empirical studies to be a problem for over two decades. While various measures and intervention strategies have been implemented to increase the interest of girls in computing education and industry, the level of success has been discouraging. The primary contribution of this paper is to provide an analysis of the extensive research work in this area. It outlines the progressive decline in female representation in computing education. It also presents the key arguments that attempt to explain the decline and intervention strategies. We conclude that there is a need to further explore strategies that will encourage young female learners to interact more with computer educational games

Gender and participation in mathematics and further mathematics A-levels: a literature review for the Further Mathematics Support Programme

In preparing this report I have considered evidence from over 60 documents that relate to raising girls’ participation in mathematics. These include published research papers and reports compiled by expert bodies that present an evidence base. Although research specifically addressing Further Mathematics A-level is rare, the last ten years have seen considerable efforts to synthesise and update knowledge from different research perspectives about the relationship between gender and participation. For this reason, the review process started with papers from 2008 onwards

Factors Affecting Female Participation in Education in Seven Developing Countries

Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

EVALUATION OF PLC PROGRAMME PROVISION. ESRI RESEARCH SERIES NUMBER 61 JANUARY 2018

Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses represent the largest component of full-time further education and training (FET) provision in Ireland, with over 32,000 learners enrolled in such courses in 2015–2016. Recent research on the FET sector as a whole highlighted concerns around its structures and responsiveness to labour market conditions, among other issues (McGuinness et al., 2014). The SOLAS FET Strategy (2014) subsequently pointed to the need for a stronger evidence base in order to inform future policy development in the sector. This study, commissioned by SOLAS, provides a more detailed evaluation of PLC provision. In order to undertake a comprehensive evaluation, our approach has been to combine a variety of research modes in order to examine the underlying processes, experiences and outcomes of PLC provision. This involved three complementary research strands. Firstly, a desk-based analysis of administrative data was used to document the type of provision in terms of field of study and the distribution of PLC places across the country. Secondly, a survey of PLC principals was carried out in order to explore their perceptions of goals, adequacy of existing facilities and the benefits and challenges of PLC provision. Thirdly, a survey of PLC and Leaving Certificate leavers was conducted to assess their labour market outcomes as well as their experiences while taking PLC and higher education courses. Together, these strands provide comprehensive evidence to inform the future development of the sector

Access, Participation and Sustainable Development Goal 4: A Systematic Literature Review of Technical and Vocational Education and Training

Recent technological advancements, demographical changes, and international migrations have compounded the social, political, and economic challenges confronting most nations. These global changes demand the education and formation of youths with specific skill sets who can work and adapt to the challenges of the 21st-century workplace. Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is recognized for its pivotal role in addressing the concerns emanating from these 21st-century developments. Research has suggested that TVET contributes to sustained economic growth and development, reduces societal inequalities, and enables a sustainable future. Within the context of the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), TVET occupies an increasingly prominent place. This review of the scholarly and grey literature explored the rationale behind the resurgence of TVET globally and examined the present state of, and issues and concerns with, the expansion of TVET within the global and Canadian contexts. Findings show that economic, social justice and sustainability rationales account for the renaissance of TVET. Also, both the Canadian and global literature suggest a continued stratification of access to and participation in TVET for students from different sociodemographic groups (e.g., socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, geography). The study found that cultural, religious, institutional, and historical factors affect the participation of students from diverse social backgrounds to TVET. My research also identified attractiveness (status) and funding as the primary issues hindering the utilization of TVET potential in addressing societal challenges from a global as well as the Canadian context

Longitudinal Studies of Human Growth and Health: A Review of Recent Historical Research

This paper reviews recent literature using stature and weight as measures of human welfare with a particular interest in cliometric or historical research. We begin with an overview of anthropometric evidence of living standards and the new but fast-growing field of anthropometric history. This literature is always implicitly and often explicitly longitudinal in nature. We then discuss (i) systematic empirical research into the relationship between conditions in early life and later life health and mortality and (ii) historical evidence on the relationship between body mass, morbidity and mortality. We conclude with a discussion of the importance of historical sources and understandings to health economics and population health.Anthropometric history; Biological standard of living; Height; Obesity; Physical stature; Well-being