STEM Women at the Institute of Student Employers Student Recruitment Conference

Jul 03, 2024 Industry NewsUncategorised 4 minutes read

The STEM Women team had a fantastic experience last month at the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) Student Recruitment Conference. The event brought the early careers community together to share insights though keynote talks, engaging breakout sessions, and networking opportunities.

STEM Women were honoured to be event sponsors as well as judging the award for ‘Commitment to Improving Diversity through Student Resourcing’ and delivering a breakout session on day two of the conference.

Day One: Thought-Provoking Discussions

Day one of the conference offered thought-provoking key-note presentations covering skills-based hiring and improving inclusivity for disabled candidates. The breakout sessions offered in-depth discussions on key issues in student recruitment, and our team enjoyed making new connections at our stall in the exhibition area.

Day Two: Highlighting Gender Imbalance in STEM

On day two our team were excited to deliver our own breakout session, sharing the findings from our latest whitepaper, “Understanding the Gender Imbalance in STEM.” This report breaks down our research into the experiences and expectations of women and non-binary students and graduates in STEM. It provides both data-driven insights and actionable recommendations to enable the recruitment and retention of women in STEM.

Currently, women make up just 26% of the STEM workforce in the UK.

The session was popular with attendees both in-person and online, as Head of Events, Sophie Chadwick opened by addressing the critical issue of underrepresentation of women STEM.

Author of the whitepaper, Pam McGee, then gave an overview of the report’s findings, supported by data and qualitative responses from the STEM Women community.

Some Key Findings:

  • Levels of confidence and optimism are high amongst female STEM students and graduates – contradicting the idea that confidence is holding women back in their careers. Instead, employers must look at their processes and policies to find the cause of the ‘leaky pipeline’ of talent.
  • The pandemic continues to impact graduate’s career decisions with 65% saying it has affected their careers in STEM. The cost-of-living crisis is also a major concern.
  • 52% of respondents expect to see significant positive change in the representation of women in STEM over the next 10 years, despite the reported decline in the number of women working in STEM.

An Outstanding Student Panel

One of the most inspiring parts of the session was the student panel featuring Ananya Pikale, Grace Newman, Nicole Lawrence, Eleanor Asquith, and Lauren Coumbe. These students represent the future of Women in STEM, bringing their unique perspectives and experiences to the discussion. Their insights were truly motivating and underscored the importance of supporting the next generation of women in STEM.

“I really enjoyed being on the panel talk at the ISE event. It was great to be alongside some amazing female STEM students and voice our perspectives on such important topics. I hope our time at the event has had a positive impact on everyone we networked with and those who came to our panel.”

– Grace Newman, Loughborough University student

Engaging with the Community

Meeting so many fantastic individuals and sharing the details of our work and upcoming events has been incredibly rewarding. The conversations we’ve had highlight the shared commitment within the community to address gender imbalances and create more inclusive environments in STEM.

Join the Conversation

At STEM Women we’re on a mission to drive positive change in STEM. The insights gained, and connections made at the ISE Student Recruitment Conference are vital as we work towards a future where gender diversity in STEM is not the exception but the norm.

You can download the whitepaper report here: Whitepaper 2024 – Stem Women

A full list of upcoming events is available here: Women in STEM Events | STEM Events 2024 | STEM Women