AN OVERVIEW OF FEMALE PRESENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS AT THE TECHNOLOGY CENTER OF THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF SANTA MARIA

Abstract

Although female participation in Brazilian higher education has grown significantly in recent decades, women still face structural challenges in specific fields, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Gender disparities persist in these areas, reflecting historical inequalities and social barriers to women's access and permanence. In this context, the present study analyzes the enrollment of female students in undergraduate STEM programs at the Center of Technology of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) over an 11-year period (2013–2023). This exploratory research used public data from the institutional platform “UFSM em Números” to examine gender-based enrollment across 14 on-campus undergraduate programs. Results indicate that, while a few courses — such as Architecture and Urbanism, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Production Engineering, and Sanitary and Environmental Engineering — show more balanced gender participation, the majority still exhibit a male-dominated profile, particularly in traditional engineering and computing-related fields. These findings underscore the persistence of gender inequalities in STEM education and highlight the importance of further qualitative investigations and institutional strategies to promote gender equity in access to these areas.