Women's Enrollment in Technical Courses Sees Over 2X Spike; UP, Bihar Record Noticeable Surge

New Delhi: A significant increase in women's participation in online technical education across the country has been recorded from 2019 to 2024, reveals a study. As per the report, enrollment of women in B.Tech and MTech programs has seen a dramatic rise from 4% in 2022 to 10% in 2024. The study was conducted by College Vidya, a leading educational consultancy in India.

The trend is even more pronounced in B.Sc and M.Sc programs, where female enrollment which was 15% in 2019 has doubled to 30% on an average in 2024.

Rohit Gupta, COO at College Vidya, commented on these findings: "The surge in women pursuing technical education is a watershed moment for India. We're witnessing a transformation that goes beyond just numbers – it's about breaking stereotypes and reshaping the future of our tech industry. This trend is not just empowering women; it's setting the stage for a more diverse and innovative technological landscape in India."

The study identifies several factors contributing to this positive trend. Improved access to coaching facilities has played a crucial role, allowing more women to prepare effectively for entrance examinations. The increased availability of online educational materials has also been significant, enabling women to access quality education resources from home. This has been particularly important in cases where parents might have been hesitant to send their daughters to preparation centres. Perhaps most importantly, there has been a noticeable shift in societal attitudes towards women in technology, dismantling the notion that technology-based courses are not suitable for women.

Surge in Female Participation Reported in These States

College Vidya's research indicates that the surge in female participation in technical education is particularly noticeable in certain states. Bihar , Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand , Karnataka, Maharashtra , and West Bengal have all witnessed significant increases in women enrolling in technical courses. While city-specific data is not currently available, these state-level trends suggest a widespread change across diverse regions of the country.

Prefered Courses 

In terms of course preferences, women are showing increased interest in a variety of technical fields. Short-term courses focused on Data and Artificial Intelligence have seen a rise in female participants. Traditional degree programs such as Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech), Master of Technology (M. Tech), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), and Master of Science (M.Sc) are also seeing higher numbers of women enrolling.

Mr. Rohit added, "What's particularly encouraging is the diversity of fields women are entering. From AI and data science to traditional engineering disciplines, women are making their mark across the board. This diversity of interest bodes well for the future of tech innovation in India."