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One of these is Regina Schönherr, who chose the bachelor’s study programme “Information Technology and Systems Management” at the FH Salzburg. Although she isn’t one of the majority in her study programme as a female – currently 5 of the 50 students in the programme are female – it seems as if “the girls are more certain in their choice of study programme than the guys – and maybe also a bit harder working,” says Schönherr. The UAS assesses the students the same way, she stresses. And the university also helps with the creation of a network for its female specialists: “Our head of programme supported us in founding an Austrian group of the world-wide association ‘Society of Women Engineers’,” reports the student. In addition to that, the engineering student takes part in workshops on the topic of robot programming in schools, helping girls to eliminate their reservations and scepticism towards engineering: “They see right away that the guys are no better than I am,” laughs the future information scientist. Martina Strohmayer did not have any reservations either. She got her master’s on the subject of Media Technology at the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences as part of a “Women in Engineering” course offered by the employment office and already has years of experience as a woman in the engineering profession. “I had already had training in engineering at a technical secondary school and then got into programming,” reports the 43-year-old, “so the topic ‘women in engineering’ isn’t really an issue for me now or during my studies.” And although she is often the only woman among 30-40 males during her work placements, this isn’t relevant for applications anymore. Her ability to hold her own in terms of her expertise is partially due to the education at a UAS. Only in one particular area would the IT specialist wish for greater competence: “In salary negotiations, men are always a bit more confident,” she says. “It would be great if we could learn more about negotiating techniques, especially for women.”
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