Women in engineering in Eastern Partnership countries: case study in Ukraine and Moldova

Abstract

The paper presents a study on the women in engineering in two Eastern Partnership countries - Ukraine and Moldova. Both countries were part of the former Soviet Union and gained independence in 1991 as the Soviet Union dissolved. Their recent history is marked by some conflicts and a war. The study aims to identify the dynamics of the involvement of women in engineering from the Soviet era, when women were encouraged to study science and technology, through the de-industrialization post-Soviet period, and through the impact of conflicts and war. The paper is part of a larger study, inspired by the Diversity and Inclusion Working Group in the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC); the study focuses on women in science and technology, particularly engineering, in different regions and countries of the world. The authors of the study search for common elements, specificities and trends, and aim to encourage the inclusion of more women and girls in the fields of engineering and technology.