A Framework to Enhance Women Empowerment in the Engineering Sector of Sri Lanka

Women’s representation in engineering remains notably lower than in other fields across many developing nations, including Sri Lanka. This study explores gender-based barriers and proposes strategies to enhance women’s empowerment in the Sri Lankan engineering sector. The potential factors affecting women engineers were identified through literature review and expert interviews. The severity of each of these factors was evaluated in a survey with the participation of over 300 engineering professionals, revealing crucial challenges that women engineers face. Following further expert consultations, an action plan was developed and validated using an eight-step concept analysis approach. Key findings highlight that cognitive, transferable, self-management, and self-motivation skills significantly influence women’s empowerment. These foundational traits also impact job competence, workplace support, and gender balance. Based on these insights, a framework was developed to guide organizations in implementing gender-sensitive policies that support women’s growth in engineering. While the framework is tailored to Sri Lanka, its strategies offer insights for similar efforts in other developing countries. This study provides a roadmap for modernizing workplace practices, potentially advancing social, cultural, and economic empowerment for women engineers and setting a path toward sustainable industry transformation.