APPENDIX 13
Memorandum from Women Into Science and
Engineering (WISE) in Wales
The WISE in Wales committee welcomes the opportunity
to contribute to the consideration of investment policy in Wales.
This contribution takes the form of the following statements:
1. The Women Into Science and Engineering Campaign
was launched in 1984 by the Engineering Council and the Equal
Opportunities Commission to help change the attitudes of young
people, parents, teachers and the general public to the value
of engineering and its suitability as a career open equally to
both men and women. The Welsh branch of WISE was launched in 1992.
This branch is predominantly concerned with the development and
promotion of Science and Engineering for women in Wales. The committee
comprises industrialists, scientists and engineers as well as
representatives of Government Departments, the Welsh Development
Agency, HMI, teachers and careers advisers.
2. Since the launch of WISE there is evidence
of considerable progress with the number of women studying engineering
degrees having risen from 7 per cent to 14 per cent, hence illustrating
the benefits of such an initiative. However, much more needs to
be done to ensure that women who have chosen engineering, at whatever
level, use their engineering skills in their chosen career and
to ensure that more girls and women consider science, engineering
and technology as attractive career options.
3. The targeted audience is girls and women:
parents; staff in primary, secondary, further and higher education;
careers advisers; employers; politicians and the media.
4. WISE activities include:
— WISE vehicle programme—five
converted mobile technology classrooms where girls can sample
technology at their own pace in an all female environment
— Engineering Equals—a series
of four guidance booklets for parents, staff in primary schools,
secondary schools and colleges in higher education
— Regular WISE nation-wide and international
conferences and seminars
— A directory of WISE initiatives
— In response to the crucial issue
of career breaks for women the Engineering Council's video, The
Other Half, highlights the need for employing women in industry
— Other WISE projects are posters,
videos, WISE networks, special awards, competitions and the opportunity
to meet role models.
— WISE also works closely with local
and national media through a combination of press releases and
conferences, feature articles, TV and radio interviews and contributions
to working parties.
5. In addition to the above, to date, the dedicated
activities which WISE in Wales has undertaken include:
— "WISE UP!" video—using
role models of successful women engineers and scientists in Wales.
The video is aimed at 12 -16 year olds.
— WISE Taster Days—1 day courses
consisting of four hands-on activities attended by 11 year old
girls.
6. Planned future activities are:
— Dedicated WISE in Wales vehicle
— WISE CD rom programme—aiming
to develop a CD rom providing information on careers in Science,
Engineering and Technology (SET), hence encouraging more women
to consider these options
— School poster competition
7. It is certain that the above initiatives
have encouraged more girls and women to enter scientific, engineering
and technological careers. It is now important that the momentum
of the above activities is maintained to ensure that many more
women consider these career options and continue to thrive in
their chosen work environment. Stimulating women at all levels
to consider the wide spectrum of careers available in SET will
enable a larger and more skilled workforce, hence enabling industry
to grow. The long term benefits of investing in initiatives such
as WISE in Wales and other initiatives aimed at redressing the
balance of traditional opinion are necessary to secure a better
future for Wales. The vital importance of increasing the number
of women in SET is that it will enhance the skills of the indigenous
population and make it more attractive to prospective companies
considering inward investment in Wales.
Dr Lynne Moore
Chair, WISE in Wales
8 April 1998
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