Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) is encouraging greater female participation in sports and engineering. This initiative aims to make these traditionally male-dominated sectors more accommodating of women’s contributions and aspirations. Currently, the Faculty of Engineering and Sports is dominated by male students. The Mechanical Engineering Study Program has the lowest representation of women, comprising only 10% of total participants.
UNNES has an annual program to promote its sports and engineering programs to female high school students. In 2025, the program is targeted at students at MA NU Banat Kudus on Tuesday (August 5). MA NU Banat is an all-girls school located in Kudus, with students hailing from various regions across Indonesia.
During the promotional event, UNNES representatives outlined the curricula and career prospects for women in both fields. Discussions were also held to challenge perceptions and stereotypes suggesting that sports and mechanical engineering are exclusively suited for men.
Furthermore, students were given the opportunity to try out measurement tools used in sports and engineering, demonstrating how advancements in technology have made these fields highly accessible and welcoming to women.
The 338 twelfth-grade students at MA NU Banat responded positively to the presentation. The presence of female role models served as a source of motivation for them to pursue studies in these areas.
“We are opening the doors as wide as possible for female students to participate more actively in sports and engineering. Both fields offer excellent opportunities for women,” said UNNES Head of Public Relations, Dr. Surahmat.
Kaleb Priyanto, a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering Education at UNNES, emphasized that engineering is not synonymous with strenuous or “dirty” fieldwork. At the undergraduate level, students interested in engineering focus on design and analysis—making the field no different from any other academic discipline.
A similar sentiment was shared by Wiga Nurlatifa from the Sports Coaching Education program. She encouraged students to consider the sports sector, noting the wide range of available opportunities—not only as athletes, but also as coaches and personal trainers.
“Today, the world of sports is very open to women, so there is no need to hesitate about entering it,” she said.
