Inspiring, engaging and empowering women in engineering

Engineering is at its most impactful when it brings together diverse perspectives. By approaching some of the most pressing engineering challenges of our time with new ways of thinking and a broader range of backgrounds and experiences, we can see technology through fresh eyes. That’s what takes it further into the future.

Which is why the ideas, insights and experience of women engineers are so important to engineering in all its forms.

While more and more women are being inspired by the possibilities of a career in engineering, there’s still work to be done. UNSW Engineering is committed to guiding the next generation of women engineers towards these possibilities – through the Women in Engineering (WIE) program.

Inspire. Empower. Engage.

These three words sit at the heart of WIE at UNSW – and define how the program aims to connect with future and current women engineers.

Since its start in 2014, WIE has set out to inspire young women to consider the current and emerging career pathways in engineering (and STEM at a broader level). A key part of this was breaking down any pre-conceived ideas they might have had around who can be an engineer, or just how diverse a career in engineering can actually be.

Maintaining a connected community of current students and alumni is just as vital to WIE’s mission. Today, UNSW makes up one of the largest Women in Engineering communities in the country – offering women, non-binary and gender diverse engineering students everything from mentorship and networking opportunities through to career connections.

More pathways to what’s possible

Further reflecting the non-linear possibilities is the UNSW Young WIE Pathway Program. One of the cornerstone programs of the broader WIE initiatives, the program has been designed to provide an alternate entry into UNSW Engineering for students in years 11 and 12.

Each year, 120 students take part in a 5-week program, that connects participants with a challenge set by a leading female academic from one of UNSW’s 8 Engineering schools. Mentored by a UNSW WIE ambassador, they work in teams to think creatively and solve collaboratively, presenting their group’s solution to their challenge in a short video. 

The program not only builds on the communication, collaboration and curiosity that are so key to university life and the mindset of an engineer. The outputs of the program are also aligned with UNSW’s Portfolio Entry – which means students can gain points to lower the required ATAR to enter the course they’re hoping to study.

Progress towards parity

When it comes to equal representation of women in engineering, change is moving in the right direction. Research is showing that some parts of the world are starting to see gender parity in their university-commencing cohorts. This lays the foundation to close the gap in the workplace, too – which isn’t quite as close to parity as university yet. 

“A lot of the change still needs to happen in the workplace”, says Debbie. “The vulnerable period for women in engineering is the first 5 years after graduation. Women may not see their impact early on or have the power to make big changes which is why they opt out of STEM in the early stage of their careers”.

WIE is inspired to continue shifting that dial towards parity and spotlighting the potential for impact that might have otherwise gone unseen. By changing the way women think about and engage with the world of engineering, they can continue feeling more empowered to use their engineering skills to change the world.