Sweden's Data Reveals Who Gets Into Computing—and Who Doesn't
Researchers analyzed a decade of Swedish education records to identify which students pursue computing degrees based on family income, parental education, and school type. The findings could guide policymakers and tech employers on how to broaden talent pipelines and reduce socioeconomic barriers to tech careers.
Originaltitel: A Register-Based Data Approach for Studying the Transition from High School to Higher Education in Computing
<p>The project proposed here aims to investigate how the socioeconomic context of higher education applicants and their upper secondary study programmes affect the transition to higher education in computing. Based on a population study of all individuals who graduated from upper secondary school in Sweden during the years 2014-2024, the project involves conventional regression techniques to investigate how factors such as study programme choice, gender, family education and income, and school characteristics correlate with the likelihood of applying to and enrolling in computing-related programmes in higher education. By leveraging rich national register data, this approach enables a comprehensive and longitudinal perspective on pathways into computing education. The expected results will provide insights into how participation in computing education varies between socioeconomic groups and educational institutions, and can form a knowledge base for initiatives aimed at broadening participation.</p>