Through their engaging outreach program, the Women in Engineering and IT (WiEIT) team is empowering girls and women to consider careers in STEM.
Ruba Al-zqebah and Dee Carvill from the Women in STEM Research Mentoring Program (WiSR). Photo: Ansh Bose
Girls only make up a quarter of enrolments in year 12 information technology, physics and engineering classes, according to the Australian Government’s ‘STEM Equity Monitor’. The University of Technology Sydney is dedicated to changing that statistic.
The Women in Engineering and IT (WiEIT) program at the University of Technology seeks to inspire and engage young girls through their STEM x Outreach program. This program runs in 30+ schools across NSW and sets to address barriers faced by women in entering STEM fields.
Most recently, the University of Technology Sydney was proud to accept two Cygnet Awards from Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) for their inspiring efforts in eliminating barriers in STEM, as well as for the university’s dedication to supporting women candidates in Higher Degree Research (HDR).
UTS Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Andrew Parfitt, notes that these awards exemplify the university’s on-going commitment to improving gender equity.
Our outreach programs are increasing interest among girls and young women and providing them with confidence to pursue careers in STEMM. Through greater support for women completing higher research degrees, we can empower them to reach their full potential.
Dr. Janin Bredehoeft, SAGE CEO, echoes the Vice-Chancellor’s sentiments.
“These two Awards recognise UTS’s impressive efforts to improve the career pipeline for women and girls to work in engineering and IT. Whether it’s at school or even as an early career researcher, there should be fewer gendered hurdles to progress, and UTS has been working to dismantle them. My congratulations go to everyone involved in this important work,” says Janin.
LEARN MORE about the UTS WiEIT team.