How Diversity and Inclusion Are Approached in Software Engineering University-level Teaching

Abstract

In recent years, the software engineering industry has increasingly emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion, with companies developing strategies and training programs to promote these values among employees. With more girls entering the field of software engineering and companies taking more diversity and inclusion actions, there is potential for universities to also level up their diversity and inclusion approaches in teaching. This study aims to investigate the status of diversity and inclusion approaches used in software engineering education at the university level in Finland. An online survey (N=30) was conducted among Finnish software engineering university teachers to identify commonly used approaches and case examples of diversity and inclusion, as well as challenges faced in integrating these topics into courses. The key findings indicate that while there is recognition of the importance of diversity and inclusion in software engineering education and among faculties in Finland, there is still room for improvement in the approaches used and in increasing awareness among teachers. By shedding light on these issues, this study contributes to efforts to enhance diversity and inclusion in software engineering education both in Finland and internationally.