Nurturing the future generation of successful female scientists, engineers or technicians is a role that every parent should be proud of.
There is a definite need for young women to be motivated and inspired to develop their interests in these areas, with a view to understanding the career options available to them within those industries: options that not only include research, development and design, but boardroom-level management too.
According to Women in Science, Engineering and Construction, 54 per cent of young females believe that engineering work takes place in a ‘dirty’ environment and that it is uninteresting and does not pay well.
Paradoxically, the same body of research reveals that the older female population values the importance of science, technology and engineering – heralding these industries as some of the best opportunities for the next generation.
So, why do young women dismiss the industry so easily and what can we, as their parents, mentors, role-models and potential employers, do?
Earlier this year the Government announced its intention to hand increased investments over to local authorities in order to deliver the reforms needed to raise the education level to 18.
The Government’s approach to vocational training satisfies the roles that call for exceptional practical experience, but does nothing to rekindle the enthusiasm in young women to learn specific theories or gain technical knowledge in specialist industries.
Younger age
This announcement is all very commendable, but the emphasis has, once again, been put on training and educating grown students or adults when, in fact, the focus to develop the next generation of talent must be targeted at a younger age.
There is a real need to raise the profile of the engineering and technology professions and highlight them as career options, dismissing certain stereotypes along the way. To do this, it’s important to interact with young girls on their level and in their own language.
What’s the point of sitting a high-flying wealthy chairman in his mid-60s in front of these young women?
Use real women with normal backgrounds and a basic level of education as role-models. And, make maximum use of alternative channels to spread the message.
Social networking works
As the use of social networking becomes the channel of choice for younger generations, our ability to reach out to them through interactive platforms must follow. And at the same time we must deliver more effective programmes of targeting younger females through schools, community programmes and local councils.
There are a number of national groups that need support too. Women with engineering backgrounds have joined Science Sisters, a pilot project.
These women are registered Science and Engineering Ambassadors, and are role models for young students. They provide networking and exchange of information within the local community, as well as with regional employers. They also strive to change stereotypes. But, this is a pilot scheme and without Government support and funding it is likely that the scheme will fade away. This seems so representative of today’s efforts.
Year after year, it is reported that girls are producing higher exam results and more young women are going to university. In the last ten years, the numbers of young women registering on undergraduate degree courses has risen by 37 per cent*.
This is comparable to a rise of 15 per cent for young men over the same period. However, the increase in young women adopting computer science, engineering and technical courses is minimal. In fact, in the past seven years, the number of women registering for these courses has grown by only one per cent – just 120 women in total. On a brighter note, the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) reports an increase in women starting to study for a first degree in engineering and technology – a 9 per cent increase in total.
However, a 9 per cent increase in the number of women on these courses is little to ‘shout about’ when we already know that 35 per cent more women over the same period have enrolled on first degrees. So, 250,000 women have chosen to overlook degrees in these areas and, consequently, are likely to choose alternative careers.
*Source: Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA)
*Amplicon is a distributor and manufacturer of products and systems for Industrial applications. Its Security Automation Division provides specialist networking, computer and server products to cover almost any IP CCTV or IP video surveillance requirement. It manufactures computers and storage servers suitable for NVR, DVR or ANPR applications. Networking capability ranges from a simple RS232 to RS485 converter to a fibre-optic redundant Ethernet network for a distributed IP video surveillance system. The division employs product managers, application engineers and sales engineers.
