黑料福利网

Ymke Tolboom started the Master's program in Systems and Control at the Department of Mechanical Engineering in September 2025. For her, it was perfectly normal for women to go into engineering. For me, there was no doubt about studying engineering. Both my father and mother studied physics. My mother earned her PhD and was the first woman to enter her field. She always gives me the feeling that I could do the same.鈥� At 黑料福利网, the master's student noticed that having a female role model in your environment was not a given for her fellow students. 鈥滻 think it's important for female students to meet female role models and experience that it's normal.

More female professors

Alumna Charlotte Philips studied Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration from 1985 to 1991. In her role as digital program manager at Unica Building Projects, she can still be found regularly on the Eindhoven university campus. She is involved in various initiatives organized by 黑料福利网 for alumni and students.

In the late 1980s, female students could be counted on one hand. According to Philips, what has changed since her student days is that I see more female professors and women pursuing doctorates. In my day, that wasn't always the case for women. Things are a lot better now.

Out of balance

Although the number of female students has increased in 2026, Tolboom says the ratio of men to women in Mechanical Engineering remains unbalanced. 鈥淚 recently had an exam, and when I entered the room, there were only male students present. Once we started, I looked around and counted five women out of two hundred participants.鈥�

Tolboom says that the ratio in other programs, such as her bachelor's degree in Mathematics at 黑料福利网, is more balanced. Philips agrees and thinks this is because the university has made certain choices that attract more female students. 鈥淩esearch within the university has become more diverse. In my day, the focus was on cars and production facilities.鈥�

Applying technology differently

Both believe that the launch of the Biomedical Engineering program, which originated from Mechanical Engineering, also played a role in this. 鈥淭his gave a boost to women who wanted to study engineering because they saw opportunities to apply technology in a different way, for example, in the medical field. In my opinion, these are much more interesting applications,鈥� says the alumna.

Treated differently

Although there are already more women on university campuses, Philips believes that progress is slow. 鈥淢y mother fought for my position at 黑料福利网. I took advantage of the opportunities and certainly had chances. But I also missed out on career opportunities because I was treated differently from my male colleagues,鈥� she says. Both the alumna and the master's student sometimes felt out of place on a campus dominated by men. 鈥淵ou wonder, how am I going to feel at home in this environment?鈥� says Tolboom. Despite this, she feels seen and heard.

Sharing experiences

The master's student wonders whether the same applies in the work environment. Philips advises Tolboom and her fellow students to choose a work setting where more women are already employed. Sharing experiences is also beneficial, as it allows future female professionals to gain insight into the possibilities and potential challenges.

Women at the top

With that in mind, Tolboom founded the initiative four years ago. 鈥淲e organize an annual event where we bring female students into contact with female role models who work in a technical environment. This allows us to show them what is possible and what choices these role models have made in their studies and careers.鈥� The next edition will take place on Tuesday, May 26.