Innovation has no gender – How to inspire young girls to become engineers

Only one thing can change the world for the better – people. Listening to different views and perspectives is the best way to become smarter and stronger. That’s why our industry needs to find a way to attract more girls.

Vera is a series of innovation workshops designed to inspire young girls to recognize their abilities in science and technology. The initiative is very much needed, because girls lose interest in technology as they get older. In many Western countries there is a cultural tipping point at around the age of 10.

Anna Sannö is Research Strategy Manager at Volvo CE. She says:
– We were really encouraged by this idea that we could reach out to girls at a younger age and show them the potential for a career in engineering. We simply do not get enough female candidates applying for these sorts of technology roles within the company. 

Challenges engage

In the workshops, girls are given a series of challenges, all of which are set against real-life scenarios, and provided with a number of tools and materials to work together to find technological solutions.

The result is clear. The girls have shown a stronger interest in these subjects. Evidence also shows that the long-term benefit of a better gender balance in engineering will result in more inclusive and innovative solutions for society’s complex problems.

– We’ve discovered that the more open ended the challenge and the more recognizable it is to the world around them, the more engaged these girls become, says Anna.

The workshops are arranged by Volvo CE together with strategic partner Mälardalen University. They are named Vera in honor of Vera Sandberg, Sweden’s first female engineer.