ESTeEM

ESTeEM, the first mentoring programme of its type in TU Dublin, was established in 2017 in response to two factors: the low recruitment of women, including non-binary and transwomen, into Engineering and ICT programmes and craft apprenticeship, and the retention of these students.  The development of the ESTeEM programme has been shaped by gender equality research in education and STEM subjects as well as from research pertaining to women, diversity and mentoring.

The purpose of ESTeEM is to assist these TU Dublin students in recognising they have the aptitudes needed to undertake not only their selected programme of study but also a career in their chosen profession. As part of the mentoring, the student participants develop a broader understanding about their chosen profession, the range of career paths available as well as details about the skills required to be a successful STEM graduate. This initiative also aims to create new role models for future TU Dublin students.

Benefits for Students:

Past mentees have reported an increase in confidence, and they are more positive about their course and their work preparedness. Furthermore, they describe how participation in ESTeEM creates a sense of belonging within their programmes, in the university and in their future industry.

Benefits for Mentors:

ESTeEM provides mentors with an opportunity to give back to the next generation of professionals as well as to network with other likeminded professionals.  Past ESTeEM mentors have described how they benefited from enhancing both their interpersonal skills and leadership skills while part of this programme.

Benefits for Employers:

This initiative is a successful collaboration between industry and TU Dublin because it acts as velcro between our students and industry leaders.  Additionally, ESTeEM benefits employers with an early career talent pipeline because the mentees are more career ready post-graduation. 

Over each academic year, ESTeEM holds five lunch events for the industry mentors and their TU Dublin mentees. Also, there is an induction for the students and an induction and training for the industry mentors. 

Each ESTeEM proceeding follows the same format.  The event starts with a fifteen-minute talk by an enterprise speaker from one of the participating companies.  The theme focuses on the early career needs of the mentees.  The remainder of the session is when the mentoring with the industry mentors and their mentees occurs.

In September 2020, a cross-campus and multidisciplinary group was established. The purpose was to create four online panel discussions for the academic year. The companies that were already engaged with ESTeEM agreed to participate in these events. It was determined the theme of each event would focus on women, including non-binary and transwomen, who were in craft practice apprenticeships or who were in Engineering, Computer Science or ICT related programmes. Invitations to each online event for the 2020-21 cycle were sent to TU Dublin students who were studying Engineering, Craft Apprenticeship, Computer Science and ICT. Invitations were also extended to second-level schools and Further Education Colleges in County Dublin.

Due to the ongoing restrictions in Ireland during Covid-19, a further four online events were held in 2021-22. The same format was replicated for these events.

Webinars:

• Women in Engineering, IT and Apprenticeship: What Have Been the Hidden Benefits of the Pandemic for Apprenticeship, Computing and Engineering?
• Checking your blind spot- understanding and tackling unconscious bias in Apprenticeship, Computing and Engineering
• A look at the creative aspects of careers in Apprenticeship, Computing and Engineering
• How can Apprenticeship, Computing and Engineering tackle Climate Change and Sustainability With Joan Byrne, Workhuman, Matt Kennedy, Arup, Luke O’Mahony, ESB and Anita Varshney, SAP
• What does the future look like? with Michelle McDaid, Director of Engineering, WorkHuman, Rhonda Doyle, Director of Operations, Services and Projects for Schneider Electric Ireland
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) - what exactly is EDI and why is it important? Keith Greville, Arup, Maebh Larkin, Eaton Intelligent Power, Riana Roche, Mastercard and Ann Sylvester, Amazon
• Women in Engineering, IT and Apprenticeships with Dairine Frawley, EirGrid, Mairead O'Leary, SAP, Martha Kinch, ESB and Amy Rowe, Mastercard
• How to keep the show on the road with Anne-Marie Kelly, Schneider Electric and Grainne Wafer, SAP

For further details, please contact:

Leslie Shoemaker

Lecturer in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Grangegorman, Chartered Counselling Psychologist, C.Couns,Psychol.,Ps.S.I 

• E: Leslie.Shoemaker@TUDublin.ie