Interests & Recruitment in Science:
Factors influencing recruitment,retention and gender equity in science,
technology and mathematics higher education
Research steps
The research to be done in IRIS is divided into work packages (WPs). Each IRIS partner has the main responsibility for at least one WP; however, most partners have some involvement in most WPS. Moreover, the WPs are interlinked. The figure below illustrates the overall idea of the WPs, and how these are connected and feed perspectives and empirical data into each other. WP1 and WP7 are placed outside the area of the theoretical and empirical development that will be accomplished through project IRIS, since WP1 is purely administrative, while WP7 represents the IRIS dissemination. WP 2 is largest and contains the main IRIS data collection. WP 2 receives perspectives from WPs 3-6 into instrument development, and in turn provides data for analysis within the specific perspectives of WPs 3-6.
Figure: Model of the interrelationships between the WPs.
Work package description
WP1: Management
WP1 is purely administrative, and represents the consortium management and the economy and progress reporting to the EU Commission. This is will be managed and led by the consortium coordinator (participant no. 1, UiO). This WP will set up communication and management structures, lead and monitor the integration of the consortium participants and ensure the overall project progress and quality.
WP 2: Scientific coordination
This work package is an "umbrella" for the other WPs. It sets the scene, kicks the scientific work off, coordinates the IRIS Q study and sums the project up, and contains IRIS Q development coordination, international data processing, and the final scientific reporting. Read more...
WP 3: Gender perspectives
The overall objective of this work package is to achieve an European-wide overview of the relevant literature and statistics on women‟s participation in STM and pick out the perspectives and figures relevant for IRIS, and to provide a gender equity perspective to be employed throughout the project. Read more...
WP 4: Priorities and choices
WP4 concerns young people‟s priorities and choices regarding STM education and careers. The WP has two main components, one with focus on undergraduate choice and one with focus on postgraduate choices within STM. Read more...
WP 5: Recruitment initiatives
The issue of WP5 is how recruitment to STM (of women in particular) may be improved through two main types of measures. Read more...
WP 6: Drop-out/opt-out
The aim of WP6 is to expose the reasons students have for dropping/opting out of STM higher education programmes. Read more...
Latest news
IRIS collected data by means of an electronic questionnaire to first-year STEM students in five European countries during the period March-June 2010. We receieved a total of around 6277 responses.IRIS workshop
was held at the XIV IOSTE Symposium on 18th June, 10.
25 participants from 15 countries participated at the workshop and presented their future involvement in IRIS project.
25 participants from 15 countries participated at the workshop and presented their future involvement in IRIS project.
Next consortium meeting
Venice14.-15. October 2010