Young WEIR-WISE: Discovering Engineering with S2 Girls About the programme

The Rationale

Evidence shows that there is poor gender balance within most engineering degree courses in the UK. Undergraduate intake statistics are significantly skewed towards male students and, in some courses, females make up less than 10% of the total intake. The main reason for this is that many young females see science and engineering subjects as being male orientated – and hence ‘not for them’.

The Faculty of Engineering recognises that if school pupils fail to select physics in their National 5 (formerly Standard Grade) subject choices when they are in S2, it can mean that even if they show an interest in engineering in S3 or S4, it is an uphill battle to gain the required qualifications to apply for an Engineering Degree.

Programme Outcomes

• The WEIR-WISE programme will aim to inspire female participants to become the next generation of engineers.
• Participants will learn about appropriate National 5 subject choices which feed into the various engineering streams, creating an opportunity to study engineering that might otherwise be lost.
• Participants will gain awareness of the University and of the Weir Group, that they would not otherwise have.