Clough is proud to announce it has renewed its partnership with Curtin University’s Girls+ Engineering Tomorrow (GET) initiative for the third year in a row, in its continued commitment to supporting the next generation of women in STEM.
This partnership reflects Clough's strategic business approach and dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, supporting the advancement of women in STEM fields and providing educational opportunities and career pathways within the engineering and construction sector.
The GET initiative aims to increase enrolment of girls and non-binary students in STEM subjects by supporting senior secondary students studying pre-requisite mathematics, providing tutoring, exposure to engineering activities, courses, mentors, and career pathways.
The program is run outside of school hours over 10 free sessions for Year 11 students during Term 2 and 3, and over four sessions for Year 12 students who are program alumni.
The 2023 initiative engaged 190 students, connecting them with like-minded peers and over 100 role models from across the industry, and positively, feedback from the students showed 100 per cent of participants would recommend the GET program to a friend. This year, it is anticipated that 260 young women will participate in the initiative.
Peter Bennett, Clough CEO, said: “The continued success of the GET program is proof that when businesses commit to taking action that supports greater diversity and inclusion in our industry, we can make a big difference. I am pleased to have Clough once again be a major sponsor of the program, and for the talented people across our business to continue supporting the initiative though mentoring, networking, and engagement opportunities that spark interest in engineering and STEM careers.”
Post-program survey results revealed 86 per cent of Year 11 students listed ‘engineering’ as a course of interest after participating in the GET program. Additionally, students gained a significantly improved understanding about what engineering is, what engineers do, different types of engineering careers, and engineering study pathways - important progress amidst growing concerns about the gender gap in the field of engineering.
Research conducted by Engineers Australia in 2023 highlights that despite engineering being the largest employer of all STEM occupations, it has the lowest female representation - approximately just 16 per cent of Australian engineering graduates and 14 per cent of the Australian engineering workforce are women.
Curtin’s Dean of Engineering John Curtin Distinguished Professor Vishnu Pareek said he was optimistic about the future of gender diversity in the engineering profession, while acknowledging the existing challenges.
"The GET program is an important part of efforts to increase rates of female participation in the profession and to dispel the notion that 'engineering is for males’," Professor Pareek said.
"By offering a range of opportunities for participants to explore the profession and learn directly from industry role models, we're fostering an environment where all individuals, regardless of gender, can thrive and contribute to the field."
Clough is committed to engaging and inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals.
More information about the Girls Engineering Tomorrow program is available here.
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