Open for Business—Examining Gender within the Faculty of Business

By Susan Graham and Amy MacFarlane

WOMEN IN BUSINESS are making strides in levelling the playing field—narrowing the pay gap, taking more leadership roles in organizations, and starting their own businesses. But the progress of women in the business world may be stymied by the low participation rate of women in undergraduate business degrees. Throughout North America, women remain underrepresented in business programs. UPEI is no exception. Over the past decade, female enrolment in the BBA program at UPEI ranged between 35–42%, well below the rate of female enrolment in UPEI’s Arts and Science degree programs. The truth is, we don’t understand why this is happening.

Several researchers with UPEI’s Faculty of Business are embarking on a research program aimed at better understanding why female students are or are not choosing to study business, what the experience of female students in the business program is like, how females are represented in the business curriculum, and how the Faculty of Business can better serve the learning needs and career aspirations of female students. We already know a few important things: the gender gap seems to narrow by the fourth year of study, suggesting that female students are better at persisting in the pursuit of their degree; the gender composition of professors in the Faculty of Business is relatively balanced, nine male and seven female full-time faculty members, excluding the dean and associate dean; female students appear to be as successful in their course work as their male counterparts; the gender profile of international students mirrors the gender profile of domestic students; and female students are increasingly taking on leadership roles in student societies and organizations. But we strive to know more! If we want more women around the boardroom tables, bringing their creative ideas to the marketplace, and running their own businesses (and we DO!), then we need to make sure that business programs are attracting women and meeting their needs. In order to reach these objectives, faculties of business need to make sure business programs are identifying and addressing any aspects of programming that are possibly not resonating with female students. And the business world needs women to enrol in business programs and to succeed in their studies. UPEI’s Faculty of Business is working hard to make sure we gather the relevant knowledge and are leading the way.

UPEI business graduates Jessica Smith, Vernatius Okafor, Teresa Tu, Cullen Mullally, Sara Ashnaei