Girls on Hardware: Students from the Lviv IT Cluster BSc Programs Talk about Majoring in Engineering

These girls are not just able to write code. They can solder circuits, design schematics, and create “smart” things, from watches to robots or drones. They demonstrate that doing a degree in hardware-related specialties is interesting and not as difficult as it may seem.

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, three students from Lviv IT Cluster’s educational programs share their experiences of studying hardware, their first developments, and offer advice for other girls who want to start a career in tech.

Anastasia Huk, a third-year student of the Micro and Nanosystem Technology, Sensory and Diagnostic Electronic Systems program, at the Faculty of Electronics and Computer Technologies at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.

Tell us about your specialty.

My specialty is multifunctional. After graduation, I can become an expert in micro- and nanosystems technology, work in the field of engineering, develop hardware for various smart devices from smartwatches to complex medical equipment. I can also work as an engineer of electronic devices, IoT devices, medical electronic equipment, etc.

Why did you choose hardware specialization?

I wasn’t always interested in the technical field. I got this interest during high school years. Then I decided to connect my life with nanotechnologies and nanomaterials. I really wanted to study at the Ivan Franko National University, so I looked at the programs at this university. When I learned more about Micro- and Nanosystems Technology, got to know the educational program, I finally decided to apply. In addition, there is the opportunity to have an internship in a tech company. This winter, we will have a chance to do an internship at GlobalLogic.

What do you like most about studying?

The last semester was very interesting. I particularly liked the course in Physical Electronics. We had lab work. One of our tasks was to research secondary electronic emissions of metals. I really liked doing the measurements and recording the readings of the ammeters and voltmeters independently. Also, I like tasks from the Theory of Electromagnetic Field course.

What is it like to be one of the few girls studying a hardware specialization?

I have never encountered misunderstandings or prejudice. I am the only girl in my group. When I joined the chat of our faculty, the reaction was: “Oh, another girl in specialty 153.” Overall, I was very warmly received at the faculty.

Honestly, I don’t know why girls don’t choose this specialty. They participate, for example, in physics olympiads. And they are generally interested in the tech industry and programming. That’s why I advise schoolgirls not to be afraid of hardware-related degrees, not to pay attention if someone says that this is a “male” specialty because it is absurd to guide oneself based on such a stereotype in the 21st century. Look for information about programs and curricula online. Choose those that are developed in cooperation with industry specialists. This increases your chances of actually getting into tech.

Nina Dyachenko, a second-year student of 171. Electronics, Electronics and Computer Systems program, the Faculty of Electronics and Computer Sciences, at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.

Tell us about your specialty.

We live in a time of technological progress, and things like artificial intelligence are already present in many areas of our lives. All this is the work of engineers, programmers, developers. But the foundation of all these programs is hardware, without which programming is impossible. My specialty is directly related to giving life to these processes. In the future, I can work as an electronics engineer, developing printed circuit boards, various components for them, and creating various devices.

Why did you choose hardware specialization?

It wasn’t an immediate choice. For example, in college, I studied to be an accountant. But later, I decided to opt for electronics. My dad recommended this specialty to me, he got me interested and inspired me. Currently, our classes are held online, but practical classes take place at the university. We learn a lot. We learn about artificial intelligence, schematics, programming languages. And also the importance of this or that field when working on a team project.

What do you like most about studying?

I like coding and building schematics for future household boards. Recently we developed a project of a clock: we had to build the board schematic and then print it. My responsibilities included setting up the mechanism to switch the LED lights in the clock. Since it was my first experience, many things initially seemed impossible. But I did not work alone, we had a team, and with our combined efforts, everything worked out.

What is it like to be one of the few girls studying a hardware specialization?

Initially, I thought that learning would be difficult and there would be some challenges. But the more I work, the more confident I become, and the fear goes away.

In my group, there are twelve students, including two girls. But I don’t consider it a “male” profession. So, I encourage girls who are interested in electronics to be more courageous, more patient, and confident – it will work out. Also, I advise them to be interested in tech in general and to know at least a little C++.

Veronica Hurska, a third-year student in 152. Metrology and Information and Measuring Technology specialty, Robotics program, Lviv Polytechnic National University.

Tell us about your specialty.

My specialty “brings to life” technology. Mainly it’s programming microcontrollers and designing various control systems. We study programming basics, digital circuit technology, sensory and measurement technologies. This is a very promising direction because the scope of application for robots is constantly expanding: medicine, military, and aerospace industries.

Why did you choose hardware specialization?

My father helped me choose this direction. He is a mechanical engineer and has a workshop, where I spent a lot of time as a child. I found it very interesting. In addition, it was easy to apply for this program as the competition wasn’t big. Robotics is interesting because it combines programming and mechanics.

What do you like most about studying?

What I like about Robotics is that it requires thinking. It’s very interesting to see it work in reality: on the one hand, there is just code – dry variables and text. But I run it and see it come to life. For example, I had the opportunity to work with a real motherboard.

Also, together with classmates, I worked on a website for schematic and radio-technical elements. I was in charge of the FrontEnd part: transferring functionality, running various functions, buttons, and transitions. We haven’t finished this project yet, but I hope we’ll do it in the next semester and integrate it.

What is it like to be one of the few girls studying a hardware specialization?

During school, I was a bit nervous that I would be the only girl in the group, and it would be boring, and they would make me a class monitor (laughs). But at the same time, I was watching videos online where girls worked on their projects and programmed. I thought if they can do it, then I can too. What difference does it make if I’m the only girl in the group or not.

There are sixty students and four girls in my year. But overall, everyone gets along very well. People are more likely to be surprised why did I choose such a complex specialty, not because I’m a girl studying hardware.