On Friday 8th November Northern Ireland’s STEM Champion, Dr. Joanne Stuart, OBE spoke about the launch of a new report called“Addressing Gender Balance- Reaping the Gender Dividend in Science, Technology Engineering and Maths” (STEM).
Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry, Naomi Long, MP, Dermot Mullan, Our Lady and St Patrick College Principal and year 10 pupils at Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Erin Monan (left) and Lucy Devlin. Picture: Michael Cooper, Steve Thomson, Schrader Electronics, Richard Kirk, Institution of Civil Engineers & Julie Templeton, Atkins.
The report, written by the STEM Business group which Dr Stuart chairs, lays out the business case for increased gender diversity in STEM Businesses and offers practical guidelines, case studies from local employers and a Northern Ireland STEM CEO Charter. The Charter was devised with support from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
Joanne said ‘I am delighted that we were able to launch this report at the Engineering Careers event in Our Lady and St Patrick’s College in Knock which has been attended not only by this school’s students but also pupils from the neighbouring schools of Lagan College and Grosvenor Grammar School.’
Joanne praised the partnership working between business, professional institutes, government and education that this event demonstrated where Julie Templeton of Atkins, the large civil engineering company, and a former pupil of Our Lady and St. Patrick’s spoke about her training and career as a civil engineer. STEM Business Group member, Steve Thomson, Design Group Manager from Schrader Electronics, and himself an electronics engineer, also spoke at the event and thanked the Minister for Employment and Learning, Stephen Farry and Naomi Long, MP for East Belfast for their support.
Joanne continued ‘the event, which took place during Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, demonstrates exactly what is needed to raise awareness among young people about the exciting careers that STEM can offer here in Northern Ireland. It is important that more businesses engage with schools, inspiring pupils about their industries and the great career opportunities within them. Role models such as Julie Templeton, who is also an award-winning member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, have a vital role to play in encouraging young people, particularly young women, to take up STEM careers.’
In conclusion Joanne said that ‘if STEM businesses in Northern Ireland wish to reap the gender dividend of having a more diverse workforce which increases the talent pool for recruitment, improves decision-making and performance and makes the company more responsive to its female consumers, then we would recommend that they examine the good practice ideas in this new report and see how they might apply them to their own businesses.’
