Fill the Gap - for more diversity at KTH
On the 15th of February, the digital event Fill the Gap will take place, with the goal of getting more women and non-binary persons to apply to the programmes at KTH where male students are in majority. There will be a livestream where students and alumni talk about student life at KTH and how you, after having studied at KTH, can be a part of making the future more sustainable, equal and inclusive for everyone.
The participants can then choose between different breakout rooms, where students and teachers answer questions about the programmes, student life and so on.
At CBH’s programmes Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering, a vast majority of the students are male – only 14.1 and 9.8 percent of the students are women or non-binary. But since 2014, when the Vice Dean called for a way to increase the proportion of female students, KTH have worked actively with getting more female, later also non-binary, students to those programmes. The Giants campaign turned into Fill the Gap in 2021 and in December last year, a campaign was launched on social media. The 15th of February, it’s time for the actual event.
Simone Tellberg studies Electrical Engineering in Flemingsberg and thinks that Fill the Gap is an important concept and event.
“If sustainable development is the goal, it’s relevant to create possibilities for everyone to work with this. More perspectives are needed if we want, for example, a fossil free future. Campaigns like Fill the Gap are one of many ways to give more people the possibility to work with the technical development that is needed to reach this goal.”
Why is it important with a more diverse representation at KTH’s programmes?
“One aspect is that we need a broad experience and knowledge to be able to analyse and find solutions to complex technical problems in society. The more diversity when it comes to competence and background, the more diverse solutions.”
“Why are there only 9.8 percent women and non-binary at KTH’s Degree Programme in Electrical Engineering? I mean, it can’t be because it’s the most boring and least important programme at KTH? Because it’s not, it’s rather the opposite.”
Why do you think so few women and non-binary persons apply?
“It seems to me that some of the teachers have a picture of the students that isn’t relevant today. The fact is that KTH has been, and still is, a male dominated university. What one used to do – it’s so deeply rooted. As a woman or non-binary person, one can really feel this. I think that’s one of the reasons that so few women and non-binary persons apply to these programmes.
What can the teachers do to be more including?
"I think it partly has to do with making it possible for all students, regardless of earlier experiences, to be able to make use of the course content. The teachers have to include all of us, even if we have different life experiences than the teacher. If you want to start somewhere in order to be more including, the teachers should never take for granted that all the students have all the background knowledge. Repeat the basics, even if you think it’s obvious, before moving on to more advanced concepts. Teachers who are excluding have a tendency to use abbreviations more often and to refer to concepts that they haven’t mentioned or explained before."
Text: Åsa Karsberg