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Business School launches role model initiative

In a bid to encourage more women into the science, innovation and technology sectors and raise the profile of women currently in the industry, Newcastle University Business School has launched a new role model initiative.

The launch of the ‘North East of England Role Model Platform for Innovative Women’ took place at an Inspiring Women event on 10 December at Newcastle University Business School.

The scheme, which has been established to help women overcome personal and professional barriers to success in the science, innovation and technology sectors, was initiated following research carried out by Professor Pooran Wynarczyk of Newcastle University Business School’s Small Enterprise Research Unit.

Professor Wynarczyk said: “The purpose of the initiative is to identify inspirational women within sectors that are primarily male dominated. By highlighting these women’s success stories and having them on-hand for advice, guidance and mentoring, we hope to encourage more women into the industry.”

The research concluded that women are massively under represented in certain sectors, namely, in science, technology and innovation. It also indicated that women in these sectors had to overcome professional and personal barriers such as work-life balance issues, institutionalisation sexism and a lack of access to local role models in order to enter the industry or progress beyond the glass ceiling.

The platform, which is funded by the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) is intended to be a step towards overcoming the issues concerned with participation of women in the science, innovation and technology sectors. The scheme is being supported by the Newcastle Science City Initiative, which aims to encourage participation in science.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .