Wales encourages more girls to engage in STEM

The Welsh Government has announced it will be funding programmes to get more secondary school girls engaged with STEM industries.

Technocamps Girls into STEM (GiST) is one of the programmes, which aims to increase the number of inspirational role models with very different careers, showcasing some of the traditional and less known roles that can be undertaken with a background in STEM – and normalising women in STEM.

The Engineering Education Scheme Wales (EESW) programme trialled a virtual Girls into STEM session in collaboration with Viridor, where pupils explored local industry, looking at what happens to the household waste we generate, exploring the concepts of sustainable engineering and future challenges. They also gave the pupils a careers session, allowing them to explore the five main avenues of engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical and Software) and investigated just how important engineers will be in tackling the issues of sustainability for future generations.

Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething, who has Cabinet-level responsibility for science in the Welsh Government, said: "The Welsh Government is determined to increase the number of women working in STEM, because it’s good for our society and for our economy. Evidence tells us that a diverse workforce increases profitability, productivity and creativity across industry.

"Our Programme for Government looks to celebrate diversity and move to eliminate inequality in all of its forms. This includes increasing diversity in STEM by seeking out participation from underrepresented groups, in order to build and develop a world in which studying and working in science are open to all.

"We need to increase the flow of STEM skills from schools into the Welsh economy, and ensure that more girls access STEM related careers and further learning. STEM subjects are an essential area of education, and they continue to form an integral part of the Curriculum for Wales, preparing learners for study, employment and life in the 21st century."