Exploring Gender Disparities in Self-Efficacy in Computer Science Education: A Case Study at the University of British Columbia Okanagan

This paper investigates gender disparity in the computer science (CS) program at the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBC-O). Despite the national average of about 30% for women in CS programs, UBC-O shows a more severe gender imbalance (about 19%). Analyzing the experiences of CS students at UBC-O revealed that women in the program exhibit lower academic and career self-efficacy, resulting in a lower desire to pursue a career in CS. This occurs despite women having similar or higher academic standing compared to their male counterparts. These findings emphasize the need to invest further efforts to counteract the challenges faced by the women in their CS programs. This study contributes insights to create more inclusive and supportive environments, aiming to increase gender representation in CS programs not only at UBC-O but across other institutions facing similar challenges.