Women in STEM in Northern Ireland

Lorna McAlpineSTEM Business Co-ordinator

Priority Sectors for NI

• Advanced Materials and Engineering(aerospace, electrical, electronics, automotive, renewables)

• Financial & Business Services (incl. Technology)

• Telecoms & ICT• Life & Health Sciences• Creative Industries• Agrifood

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000

Subjects allied to medicine

Business & administrative studies

Education

Social studies

Biological sciences

Computer science

Engineering & technology

Creative arts & design

Medicine & dentistry

Law

Languages

Physical sciences

Architecture, building & planning

Combined

Historical and philosophical studies

Mass communications and …

Mathematical sciences

Agriculture & related subjects

Veterinary science

CHART 3 : NI domiciled students enrolled at UK HEIs by gender and subject area -2012/13

Male Female

STEM Education in Summary 2013

Source: Department of Education and Department for Employment and Learning

Education Level Male enrolments(expressed as % of total STEM enrolments)

Female enrolments (expressed as % of total STEM enrolments)

A-Level 55% 45%

Degree enrolments

62.5% 37.5%

Achieving degree qualifications

58.6% 41.4%

STEM in EmploymentIn the workplace, more males work in STEM related areas.

•High level jobs in STEM related industries currently account for 11% of total employment.

• The ratio of male to females employed in STEM related industries is 3 to 1.

• Males currently outnumber females in the manufacturing sector by a ratio of 4 to 1.

(Source: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, NI Labour Force Survey and Department for

Employment and Learning Ministerial Oral Statement on Gender Issues.)

Employability:

• Good match between:• Skills from a STEM Course: • Ability to: think analytically, problem solve and

use evidence to support arguments. Skills include numeracy, literacy, the ability to use information technology, group working, presentational skills, time organisation, and research skills and....

10 STEMNET skills identified by employers:

• communication and interpersonal skills, problem solving skills, using own initiative and being self-motivated, working under pressure and to deadlines, organisational skills, team working, ability to learn and adapt, numeracy, valuing diversity and difference and negotiation skills.

Salaries and Opportunities

• In addition to increased employability, the Science Council says that the long-term benefits of having science qualifications and skills include good salaries and variety of opportunity

• Degree courses can lead to Professional Status–Tomorrow’ s Engineers Week site says salaries for graduate and professionally qualified engineers are well above the average. Those for Engineering Technicians- (apprenticeships or other vocational route) are also above the average ‘mid-career’ salary of £26,000.

STEM Business Group- recommendations fromSuccess through STEM strategy include:

• Develop a clear STEM careers pathand

• Address gender balance

• PartnersW5, Sentinus, ASE, FE, HE, BiTC, SEC

Activities to address gender balance

• Devised and consulted on a set of Good Practice Guidelines for addressing gender balance in STEM industries

• Ran an event ’ Are you getting the balance right?’ on 6 June 2013 to engage STEM employers and start to capture ideas and good practice- 70 attended

• Developed and launched a STEM Charter for CEOs; in partnership with Equality Commission NI

• 60 people attended launch, 20 organisations signed Charter, 24 to attend Network meeting in September

• Published STEM supplements in Regional papers in September for UCAS and February for Year 10 and 12. Featured female role models. One planned for September.

Addressing Gender Balance-Report published November 2013

• The Business Case for Gender Equality in STEM –’employ more women and make more money’

• Statistics for NI – 11 % employed in high level STEM posts only 25% are women

• NI STEM CEO Charter • Good Practice Guidelines – 22 simple steps for

pre- and post –recruitment• Case Studies

Case Studies from report

• Schlumberger female engineering scholarship, girls’ schools’ open days

• NIE and Schrader - female role models in advertising and as STEM ambassadors and as Mentors

• Ulster Bank- IT, female networking for career development• Allstate, extensive range of family friendly initiatives -

retention • Atkins – Women’s Leadership Council , Women’s

Development Programme• Queen’s University – Athena Swann award holders-

Cultural issues viz: Canada Room itself

Inspiring Women in STEM

in Northern Ireland

Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell astrophysicistBorn in Belfast, lived in Lurgan, falied her 11+. Whilst studying for her Ph.D. Discovered pulsars.

Catherine O’Neill winner of Young Business Women of the Year Catherine started her own business, Amelio, as a Civil Engineer, whilst still at University. She employs 15 staff already

Ellvena Graham Managing Director of SME Banking for Ulster Bank GroupAttended Methodist College Belfast, has worked in Ulster Bank including IT for over 30 years Started a Network for Women in the Bank; Women in Touch

Clare Flynn, Project Manager, Liberty ITSt Dominics, UUJ , Software Engineering 1st class Hons, with Scholarship from Apion Biggest Influence- her mother. ‘ Create your own destiny’

Ruth Patterson Randox Biochip Custom Unit Scientist

BSc (hons) degree in Biological Sciences at Queens University Belfast, focused on genetics

Mary McCall , TreatTicket and Sheree Atcheson, Kainos and Women Who Code UKMary has started her own digital business which is a mobile app and website for discounted treats including pamper sessions, hotel stays and restaurant offers. Sheree Atcheson, graduated in 2013, working for Kainos, has started Women who code as a Meetup group to support women programmers in their career development

Lisa O’Neill Generations Connections Engineer NIEPictured on right hand side at launch of STEM Charter

Why ... because..‘STEM- It’s where the jobs are’

Belfast Met WebsiteLink for STEM supplement:

http://www.irishnews.com/readerH.aspx?media=STEM&edition=stem2014 Link for Addressing Gender Balance Report:

http://www.equalityni.org/Footer-Links/News/Employers-Service-Providers/Putting-women-first-In-STEM-industries

E-mail lorna.mcalpine@stembusinessgroupni.com

World class STEM Businesses

in Northern Ireland

TissueMark

STEM- It’s where the jobs areBelfast Met Website