Research shows that women currently make up less than one-quarter of professionals in the STEM space.
Dublin City University and Fidelity Investments Ireland have announced a partnership aimed at closing the gender gap in STEM education and careers. The collaboration will see Fidelity invest €184,000 into a two-year research initiative facilitated by DCU Educational Trust.
According to Fidelity, women currently make up less than 25pc of professionals in STEM careers in Ireland, despite significant attendance and representation at higher level educational institutions. But issues often appear earlier than at the career stage, as research also suggests that secondary school girls are less likely to engage with STEM subjects such as computer science, technology and engineering.
The aim of the collaboration between the two groups is to uncover the barriers to more women in STEM education and careers, while also looking at the kind of opportunities that can influence female engagement. The groups hope that the initiative will help to close the gender gap in relation to STEM and drive interest at third level.
The two-phase study will assess how engagement in STEM is sustained for children, via interviews, surveys and focus groups involving students, parents, teachers and professionals who once faced similar choices.
The findings will then be used to inform national policy and classroom practice, feed into global research on effective interventions and strengthen the pipeline of female talent into higher education and industry.
Commenting on the news, Lorna Martyn, the head of corporate services technology at Fidelity Investments, said: “By engaging in this research and through our scholarship programme, we aim to create a future where more women can thrive in STEM careers, ensuring Ireland remains a hub for innovation and talent.
“Our common goal is to better understand the interventions that may positively impact the participation gap in STEM education and careers. Collaborations with institutions like DCU demonstrate the power of industry and academia working together to drive systemic change.”
Dr Aisling Twohill, a lecturer in mathematics education in DCU’s School of STEM Education, Innovation and Global Studies, added: “As part of our mission to transform lives and societies, we are committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to achieve their potential within the STEM disciplines.
“Through this important collaboration with Fidelity Investments Ireland, we can deepen our understanding of the barriers girls and young women face and identify solutions that empower more girls to thrive in STEM subjects and careers. This collaboration brings together world-class research and industry leadership to help close the gender gap and create a more equal future for innovation in Ireland and beyond.”
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