A UTS collaboration is empowering young women and girls to see the possibilities of a bright and successful future career in STEM, starting in the classroom.
The WiEIT team on UTS campus. Image: Bose Creative.
Since 1981, Women in Engineering and IT (WiEIT) at UTS has inspired girls and women to engage in innovative engineering and IT opportunities throughout their study and careers. Still, gender inequality remains a core issue in STEM fields. But increased outreach and education opportunities are helping to shift the dial.
Our STEM X school outreach programs facilitate interactions with relatable role models, increasing students’ interest, confidence and ability to identify with STEM. That’s where Cognizant Australia, a global professional services company and proud partner of our outreach program, plays a critical role. Through supporting scaled outreach programs to reach even more students at critical times in their education, the STEM X programs are creating a groundswell in classrooms across New South Wales.
The partnership with WiEIT and Cognizant began in 2021.
'We found early on that there is a very good fit of values and working standards between WiEIT and Cognizant, especially with supporting diversity and a long-term approach to creating change,' says Marco Angelini, Outreach Coordinator for WiEIT.
'Women and people from diverse backgrounds – all backgrounds – have as much ability, aptitude and eagerness to contribute to STEM professions as anyone else. So why should they be held back?'
'It's economically and socially inefficient to miss out on all the talent in these key areas; especially given the seriousness of the problems we face in the world.'
Women and people from diverse backgrounds – all backgrounds – have as much ability, aptitude and eagerness to contribute to STEM professions as anyone else. So why should they be held back?
Marco Angelini - WiEIT Outreach Coordinator
Watie Hassian, Engagement Delivery Partner at Cognizant Australia adds, 'The recipients are actually empowered, and that empowerment opens up opportunities to underrepresented youth and children.'
So, how does it work?
Decades of outreach in high schools made it clear to WiEIT that the barriers to participation started a lot earlier – in primary school.
During these formative years, students, teachers and families are key influencers in building STEM interest, confidence and self-efficacy. It’s clear to see that addressing the gender gap in STEM studies, especially engineering and IT, requires early intervention.
The STEM X school outreach programs seek to do just that. Partnering with Cognizant has helped sustain the impact of the programs, while allowing it to grow to cover both high school and primary school.
Outreach aims to build relationships and shift perceptions of who can and should be in STEM studies and careers. The STEM X Play program brings UTS students and industry professionals into a primary school classroom for 6-8 weeks over the term. Students get hands on, learning about design thinking, building prototypes and engaging with industry professionals to pique interest and offer role models.
As with many outreach programs, time and frequency are a challenge. Findings show students need multiple interactions throughout their school years to meaningfully increase interest and shifts in career perception.
STEM X Impact aims to pick up where STEM X Play left off. Year 7 and 8 students develop and test prototypes to solve real-world problems – receiving valuable feedback, coaching and role modelling from those within the field as their ideas come to life.
The WiEIT and Cognizant teams engaging with high school students at UTS campus. Image: Supplied.
Growth from within
As the program has expanded, so has the team. UTS FEIT alum Maryam Kausar and Georgia McCarthy are both WiEIT Outreach Officers supporting the STEM X programs. They reflect on their experiences of studying at UTS and why the programs are so valuable in changing perceptions and broadening horizons.
'The outreach programs show students that STEM goes beyond what they know. They see that STEM requires thought and planning, as well as experimentation and empathy. It showcases a successful STEM project can only be achieved through collaboration,' reflects Georgia.
Maryam adds, 'Throughout my degree, I worked with the WiEIT team to bring attention to the necessity of gender equity and diversity in STEM fields. As a woman studying engineering, there were times where I was the only woman in a lab team, group, or whole class. When people are not accustomed to working with diverse teams, their prejudices and biases become evident.'
'Having often been on the receiving end of these prejudices, it’s vital to bring attention to the lack of gender diversity in STEM fields and address them appropriately.'
When people are not accustomed to working with diverse teams, their prejudices and biases become evident.
Maryam Kausar - WiEIT Outreach Officer
The numbers
The program’s stats speak for themselves.
'We know it works. We have 4 years of data, and it shows a clear trajectory of success in building capacity in our communities, increasing leadership development among our students, teachers and stakeholders and increasing numbers of diverse students wanting to pursue educational and professional success in STEM fields,' Marco says.
Since 2019, the STEM X programs have reached:
over 9,000 school students across primary and high school, predominantly young women and girls
approximately 350 teachers
150 schools across New South Wales.
Data collated from the program has shown significant positive outcomes, particularly in primary schools:
| Increased interest in: | Pre-program | Post-program | Difference |
| Engineering | 51.6% | 65.4% | ↑ 13.8% |
| Solving problems | 43.1% | 64.8% | ↑ 21.7% |
| Increased confidence in: | Pre-program | Post-program | Difference |
| Engineering | 26.6% | 43.2% | ↑ 16.6% |
| Solving problems | 44.6% | 61.5% | ↑ 15.9% |
| Building things | 71.8% | 77% | ↑ 5.2% |
A bright future
WiEIT’s work isn’t going unnoticed. A three-year grant from the federal government (Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship) will support WiEIT’s work to create a community of practice around programs and teaching. UTS will partner with two other Australian universities, RMIT and University of Adelaide, to collect examples of good practice nationally and embed program innovation within the sector.
The WiEIT school outreach program has also been approached to develop a new project using their content and evaluation models to engage more closely with First Nations students. This new project will be delivered in partnership with Engineers Without Borders.
Marco says that long-term engagement has always been a key goal for the STEM X strategy.
'We’re embedding our practices in school communities and maintaining ongoing relationships. And this has been made possible through the multi-year collaboration with Cognizant.'
The WiEIT and Cognizant teams recently celebrated their partnership with an event at UTS campus. Image: Bose Creative.
Maryam adds, 'Moving forward, we hope to see a greater impact from these programs to provide new perspectives toward studying and working in engineering and IT fields. We don’t want anyone to think they aren’t capable or unable to achieve their goals in these industries for lack of representation.'
'Anyone can succeed – as long as they are provided the appropriate support.'