The Dean of the School of Sustainable Engineering at the University of Cape Coast, Professor Peter Obeng, has called for increased female participation in engineering, urging young women to break stereotypes and explore careers in the field.
He made the call during the celebration of World Engineering Day, organized by the School under the theme “Smart Engineering for Sustainable Development through Innovation and Digitalization: Empowering SHS Students to Explore Engineering Pathways in an Innovative and Digital World.”
Professor Obeng encouraged students from various senior high schools, particularly girls, not to allow societal misconceptions to discourage them from pursuing engineering.
According to him, the event was specifically designed to inspire young girls to see engineering as a viable career path rather than a field reserved for men.
“ One of the key things we want to achieve is to inspire our girls to understand that engineering is not just for boys. Just as people assume nursing is for women, some also assume engineering is for men. We want to change that perception and encourage girls to confidently pursue engineering,” he said.
The keynote speaker for the event, Ing. Mrs. Mercy Achiaa Payne encouraged female students to see engineering as an exciting field driven by creativity and innovation rather than a difficult academic programme.
She advised students interested in engineering to build strong academic foundations in Mathematics, Physics and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), while also developing digital skills such as coding and robotics.
“Engineering is demanding but very rewarding because it requires critical thinking and creativity,” she added.
Ing. Payne explained that engineering is not only about machines and complex calculations but also about solving everyday problems using creativity and practical knowledge.
She said engineering combines creativity with digital knowledge and advised saying, “If you enjoy solving puzzles, building things, using computers, and asking how things work, then engineering may be the right pathway for you.”
According to her, curiosity plays a crucial role in innovation, noting that many great inventions originated from simple questions about how things work and how they can be improved.
She reassured female students that they are equally capable of succeeding in engineering.
Mrs. Payne indicated that many women are already excelling in engineering roles across Ghana and are part of the Women in Engineering (WINE) group under the Ghana Institution of Engineering.
“Through Women in Engineering, we demonstrate that women are just as capable of solving problems and contributing to innovation,” she said.
She urged young women not to allow stereotypes to limit their ambitions and encouraged them to remain bold, creative and curious as they explore opportunities in engineering.
READ ALSO: UCC signs MoA with Astra Learning to establish AI-powered eCampus
Source: Angelina Riley Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
