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Strategies for retention of women lecturers in mathematical sciences in Government Universities in Uganda

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Abstract

Worldwide, several education interventions have been made to prevent leakages in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pipeline. Resulting, the number of women graduating from universities with higher degrees in STEM courses have increased. Unfortunately in Uganda, as is the case globally, some women scientists decide to leave the STEM field shortly after attaining their qualifications. A similar trend has been noted in academia. However, this phenomenon varies by discipline. The purpose of this study was to identify the social-ecological challenges faced by women lecturers in Mathematical Sciences (MS) in government universities in Uganda and to suggest strategies to improve their retention. While 92 women lecturers in MS filled a semi-structured interview guide, nine participated in face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, thematic analysis, and categorization and findings indicated that challenges that women lecturers in MS face and the strategies that they suggested to improve their retention are at individual, interpersonal, institutional, and academic community levels. Although these strategies are promising, they require a lot of funds to be implemented. Thus, funding bodies are urged to continue supporting such initiatives with a distinct consideration of early-career women scientists.

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Data availability

All data generated and analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

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Funding

The research leading to these results was fully funded by The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) under grant number: 19-002 RG/MATHS/AF/AC_1.

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  1. Department of Science, Technical and Vocational Education, School of Education, College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda

    Marjorie Sarah Kabuye Batiibwe

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Correspondence to Marjorie Sarah Kabuye Batiibwe.

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Kabuye Batiibwe, M.S. Strategies for retention of women lecturers in mathematical sciences in Government Universities in Uganda. SN Soc Sci 2, 277 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-00589-0

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