An analysis of Italian university students’ performance through segmented regression models: gender differences in STEM courses

Abstract This paper investigates gender differences in university performances Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses Italy, proposing a novel application through the segmented regression models. The analysis concerns freshmen students enrolled at 3-year STEM degree Italian universities last decade, with focus on relationship between number of credits earned during first year (a good predictor regularity career) probability getting bachelor within 4 years. Data is provided by Ministry University Research (MIUR). Our confirms that first-year performance strongly correlated to obtaining Furthermore, our findings show vary among courses, accordance care-oriented technical-oriented dichotomy. Males outperform females mathematics, physics, chemistry computer science, while are slightly better than males biology. In engineering, female seems follow male stream. Finally, accounting for other important covariates regarding students, we point out importance high school background students’ demographic characteristics.