Portuguese Women in Science and Technology (S&T): Some Gender Features Behind MSc. and PhD. Achievement

with S(t) decreasing monotonous continuous.

As h(t | x) = h0 (t) e^{x’ β} = f(t) / S(t), it represents the instantaneous
probability of an event occurring in time t given it lasted until t.

So, if we are considering the amount of time needed for a given
individual to take a MSc. - the probability that a MSc. will take more than
two years, for instance¹⁵ - it comes straightforward that such amount will
depend on the individual’s initial conditions, h0 (e.g., own previous
qualification, graduation area, university in which graduation has been
achieved...), own individual characteristics, x (such as gender, age, birth
place...) and a set of parameters, β, associated to the variables whose joint
influence we wish to estimate: for example, family situation, number of
children, situation towards employment, occupational characteristics and
opportunities foreseen when post-graduation decision has been taken,
among others.

4. Data and Preliminary Results

To study post-graduation trajectories we mostly rely upon TELOS II
project database, which comprises data on 145 MSc. and PhD. (118 and 27,
respectively) diploma achieved in 1995/96 and 2000/2001 in four
Portuguese public universities: University of Aveiro, Lisboa University -
Faculty of Psychology and Education, the New University of Lisbon -
Faculty of Sciences and Technology and Lisbon Technical University -
Institute for Economics and Business Administration (ISEG). This sample

¹⁵ We should notice that in previous periods, including the first one considered in our survey,
administrative arrangements concerning time to achieve MSc. and PhD. were not so strict as they are
nowadays. Besides, most individuals and post-graduation institutions not always comply with legal time
intervals assigned to the degrees completing, exceptional regimen being frequently allowed. Moreover,
individuals outside academic career are often free from observing too strict time intervals.

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