Southampton pledges to inspire women to take up technology and engineering careers and study

The University of Southampton is working in partnership with the government, educators and industry to boost female participation in technology and engineering.

The University’s pledge announced in May, aims to support a change in how women and girls are encouraged to consider technology and engineering careers and the subject choices or vocational pathways that lead to them.

The national aspirations of the ‘Your Life’ campaign is to double the number of women studying engineering and technology degrees at undergraduate level by 2030; boost the number of women pursuing careers in engineering and technology; and increase the number of young people studying maths and physics at 18.

The University will play a major part in this campaign through a number of activities between May 2014 and May 2015. These include:

• Expand on its successful Dragonfly Day to encourage more Year 9 female students to consider careers in science and engineering. • Support Theano, a University community providing guidance an professional development for female students and staff within STEM subjects through a variety of training and networking events with leading female role models • Host “Women in Engineering” seminars at open days to encourage women to study engineering and STEM subjects. • Deliver talks at the Women’s Institute to engage mothers and grandmothers in STEM subjects and encourage them to promote science and engineering to their families.

Professor Rachel Mills, Associate Dean for Natural and Environmental Sciences, said: “The University is proud to sign this important national commitment for action. We will build on our award winning work with young people to enable more women to access technology and engineering degree programmes. Increasing the diversity of the UK technology and engineering workforce over the next decades will be delivered through concerted, consistent and creative efforts by all of us.”

Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock said: “There has never been a greater focus from government on inspiring people, especially women and girls, to take up science, technology, engineering and maths. STEM disciplines are the heartbeat of the modern world. From agriculture to aviation, the analytical and problem-solving skills they develop are more valuable than ever in a fast-changing, global economy. I'm delighted that 170 leading organisations are joining us in our commitment to inspiring more women and girls to take up study and training in these areas.”

To view the University of Southampton’s full pledge, please visit: http://www.yourlife.org.uk/signatories