Chamber and committees

I refer the member to my answer to S5O-00046 on 15 June 2016.

The Scottish Government is fully committed to encouraging more girls, and young people more generally, to study STEM subjects. STEM is vital to Scotland’s future economic growth and prosperity. There are some very encouraging signs of greater participation by women in STEM subjects at college and university. For example, between 2007 and 2015 the numbers of entries by girls to the main science Higher qualifications, including computing, were up by 10%.We are supporting projects to tackle gender stereotyping in STEM education at school and equality projects across Scottish colleges and universities. These include the Improving Gender Balance initiative that aims to challenge STEM stereotypes from young people in the early years of their education through to S6.The Scottish Funding Council has prioritised STEM across the college and university sectors, including uptake by young women. There are many examples of colleges helping young women develop the necessary skills, ambition and interest to break down the barriers for those who, traditionally, had been put off by a male dominated environment. In 2014-15 there were 27% more female full-time equivalent science and maths students and 55% more full-time equivalent female engineering students in colleges, compared with 2006-07. Our forthcoming STEM Strategy will promote action to encourage a better gender balance of those studying STEM subjects and courses.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx