The University of Toronto’s Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) is proud to share an important milestone: 43% of the 2025 incoming undergraduate class self-identified as female.
Since Professor Deepa Kundur became Chair of ECE in 2019, the first woman to hold the role, the proportion of women entering the program has steadily increased. As an alumna of the ECE undergraduate program, Kundur brings a perspective informed by her own experience navigating engineering environments where women have historically been underrepresented.
That experience informs a leadership approach focused on visibility, belonging, and long-term change. When students see people like themselves thriving in engineering, it expands their sense of what is possible. Over the past several years, the department has worked collectively to strengthen recruitment, increase representation, and create an environment where more students feel encouraged to pursue electrical and computer engineering.
Professor Ervin Sejdic, ECE Undergraduate Chair and Director of Recruitment, works closely with faculty, staff, and the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering (FASE) recruitment team to ensure these commitments translate into sustained action.
“ECE is incredibly proud to welcome a first-year cohort with 43% women,” says Professor Sejdic. “It’s an important milestone that reflects our ongoing commitment to broaden participation in engineering. This progress highlights the impact of intentional outreach, visible role models, and a culture that values inclusion.”
That culture is reinforced through both day-to-day practices and targeted initiatives. ECE has strengthened its recruitment efforts by increasing faculty engagement in outreach, participating in both virtual and in-person recruitment events, and partnering closely with the FASE admissions and outreach teams. These efforts help ensure that prospective students encounter welcoming and inclusive messaging from their earliest interactions with the program.
This summer, the department will also host a hackathon specifically for female high school students. The event provides a welcoming environment for young women to explore engineering through collaboration and creativity, while connecting directly with students and faculty in the ECE community.
The implications of this progress extend well beyond enrolment figures. Electrical and computer engineering shape the systems that underpin modern society, including communications and healthcare technologies, cybersecurity, climate solutions, and artificial intelligence. “For decades,” emphasizes ECE Chair Professor Deepa Kundur, “the field has drawn from too narrow a slice of available talent.”
“The challenges we face today (climate change, cybersecurity, ethical AI) require broad, inclusive thinking,” says Professor Kundur. “Diverse teams bring differing life experiences, communication styles, and approaches to design. These perspectives are not optional. They are essential.”
Research consistently reinforces this position. Studies from organizations such as McKinsey & Company and Forbes show that diverse teams outperform their peers, demonstrating stronger decision-making, greater innovation, and improved organizational outcomes. In engineering, where collaboration and creative problem-solving are fundamental, diversity is a critical driver of excellence.
Achieving this momentum has required close collaboration across the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. Sherry Lin, Associate Registrar and Director of Admissions, highlights the importance of embedding inclusion throughout the recruitment process.
“One of the key ways we’ve increased the number of women in engineering is by creating a recruitment experience that is inclusive from the very first interaction,” Lin explains. “With strong support from the Chair, Professor Kundur has been deeply involved in both in-person and virtual recruitment and conversion initiatives. She also created personalized video messages for admitted female students to help break down stigmas, build confidence, and inspire the next generation of engineers.”
At 43%, ECE is closer than ever to gender parity. Yet the department views equity as an ongoing practice, not a final destination.
“Progress never happens in isolation,” says Professor Kundur. “It takes trust, dialogue, and persistence. We must continue expanding access, particularly for Black and Indigenous students, and those from historically marginalized communities, while ensuring that all students feel they belong.”
Looking ahead, ECE is continuing to expand outreach initiatives and deepen partnerships with community organizations, industry partners, and the Faculty’s recruitment teams to ensure sustained progress.
“As we celebrate this milestone, our focus remains on maintaining momentum,” says Professor Sejdic. “We will continue building pathways that encourage more young people, especially those who may not traditionally see themselves in engineering, to explore the possibilities of electrical and computer engineering.”
Prospective students are encouraged to visit the department, ask questions, and envision themselves as part of the next generation of innovators.
Kundur’s message to incoming students is clear: “Trust your voice, it matters. Engineering is not only about equations and algorithms. It is about impact. You belong here. And when you show up fully, you do not just shape your own future, you help shape the future of the field.”