Shannon Chamber member company Molex recently raised the issue of a dearth of young females choosing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as a career option. Shannon Chamber’s response to this was to convene a scoping meeting with representatives from Molex, Zimmer Biomet, Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon, Modular Automation and Atlantic Aviation Group.
Discussion at this meeting centred on how best to encourage a greater take-up of STEM by 2nd levels students and the feasibility and benefits accruing to putting a structured Transition Year (TY) programme in place which would involve all companies in Shannon with an interest in this topic. A suggestion to perhaps organise a 2-week, outcome-based programme whereby small groups of students would get to work in a selection of companies on a rotational basis was put forward with great buy-in to the concept by those present.
Before a structure can be put on this concept, Shannon Chamber would like to ascertain:
- Your company’s interest in being involved in such a structured TY programme
- If your company currently accepts TY students on work experience
- The type of programme organised and work assigned
- The contact person in your company for TY
A new brand is being developed for STEM SHANNON which, while ideally seeking to encourage more females into STEM, will nevertheless be aimed at all students at career choosing stage.
If your company would like to be part of STEM SHANNON, please forward your responses to Questions 1 – 4 above to the hdownes@shannonchamber.ie OR pr@shannonchamber.ie on/before 21 July.
