In 2021 Brisbane experienced three COVID-19 lockdowns, which resulted in a total of 24 workshops/career fairs/tours being postponed or cancelled. Despite these challenges, and a hesitancy for high schools to allow external providers onto campus, the WE team was able to engage with over 1,500 students, of which over 1,300 were women. The team worked with a total of 88 schools and actively engaged with 58 teachers / Guidance Officers.

When I was in year 12, I was unsure what career I wanted to pursue, however, I loved maths and science, as well as the feeling of accomplishment when you solved a difficult problem. I knew I wanted to continue solving problems and provide solutions to real life issues, that we as society could benefit from. When an engineer came to school to speak about his career, everything fell into place and my eyes were opened to the world of engineering and the positive impact I could have on society. Being a woman in engineering has been very rewarding and the support provided by the UQ Women in Engineering program has been nothing short of spectacular. I have never looked back since choosing engineering as a career.

WE Student Leader
 

In 2020 WE have engaged faced to face with:

Student engagement

1568
students engaged with

Female students

1316
female students

Teachers and guidance officers

58
teachers and guidance officers

High school

88
high schools

 

WE Explore Engineering Day

Our biggest event of the year, the WE Explore Engineering Day, was set at the beautiful St Lucia campus in May with the aim to provide high school female students in Year 10 to 12 the opportunity to experience life as a student engineer and engage with our enthusiastic current engineering cohort. We had 128 students in attendance, from 21 high schools across Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Toowoomba who participated in various hands on workshops, presentations and precinct tours of their own choosing covering our six specialisations on offer at UQ.

We saw a 43% increase in students likely to consider engineering as a career after attending the WE Explore Engineering Day event, and the popular workshops were Engineers Without Borders Clean Water session, Giving Movement Back run by Mechanical Engineering lecturer, Dr Carolyn Jacobs and Rockets by UQ Space.

I loved the Clean Water workshop. The idea of working as a team budgeting and collaborating with other 'countries' was very fun, educational and made me seriously consider chemical engineering.

Attending student

I really loved every single aspect of the activity. From the food and setting to the amazing campus and engineering facility tours!

Attending teacher

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Interactive workshops

The fundamental engagement strategy for the Women in Engineering Program is to visit high schools and share the diverse and rewarding opportunities that are available in the field of engineering. The WE team are able to run a variety of workshops or share presentations, depending on the audience year level and size. 

This year the Renewable Energy Workshop was our flagship interactive workshop, delivered 12 times, both in schools and to STEM groups visiting UQ. The renewable energy messages coincided with UQ becoming energy neutral, as a result of the solar farms at Gatton and Warwick. 
 

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On campus experience

The Engineering, Design and Computing Experience Day run in September provided an on campus interactive experience for prospective students. The day included a WE booth, with student leaders speaking to over 60 high school students, and a Women in Engineering presentation focusing on study options, graduate programs and the ability to work overseas, with approximately 40 in attendance.

            

In 2021 the WE team introduced the opportunity for Year 11 and 12 students to have small group tours of the UQ Engineering precinct. The WE team hosted four student leaders, led tours, and plan to offer more in 2022.
 

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