Clough is proud to announce it has signed a partnership with Curtin University to support its Girls Engineering Tomorrow (GET) Program. As part of the partnership, Clough will sponsor a student and provide engineers who will act as mentors and role models to program participants.
This partnership aligns with Clough’s business strategy and social responsibility commitments to assist in increasing female participation in STEM disciplines and promote learning and pathways in the engineering and construction industry.
Peter Bennett, Clough CEO and Managing Director, said: “We are excited about this partnership with Curtin University and to engage with students in years 11 and 12 that are interested in a future in engineering. The world needs creative and inquisitive minds to help solve current problems and deliver a sustainable future.”
Participants in the free 10-week GET Program undertake a range of engineering themed workshops and activities, meet with female engineers, and learn about relevant courses and careers from Curtin’s Future Student Advisors.
Senior secondary mathematics students can receive assistance from an experienced maths tutor, along with mentoring from industry-leading engineers from Clough and students who completed last year’s program.
Upon completion, a graduation event will bring together participants, mentors, their family and friends, and industry role models from throughout the program, with students to be invited back to the program for the year 12 stream.
Curtin’s Dean of Engineering John Curtin Distinguished Professor Vishnu Pareek said the GET Program aimed to open up a world of exciting opportunities for students who choose engineering as a career.
“We believe the insights and experiences on offer to participants will ignite in them a passion for engineering that will lead to incredibly rewarding future careers,” Professor Pareek said.
Concerningly, latest research from Engineers Australia highlights the decline of secondary students pursuing subjects in the area of STEM. The report’s findings show fewer young people are studying the advanced science and maths subjects required for a career in engineering. In addition, the gender gap is clear, with less females choosing to take up STEM subjects. In turn, currently women make up only around 15 per cent of enrolments in engineering bachelor degrees in Australia
50 students have been offered places in this year’s GET Program and are ready to start on 30 April. The GET program will offer 10 sessions to the year 11 students over the course of Term 2 and 3 (April to September 2022), outside of school hours. This program targets female senior secondary students studying pre-requisite mathematics and offers them tutoring support and exposure to engineering activities, courses, role models and careers.
More information about the Girls Engineering Tomorrow Program is available here.