Mentoring female high school students for a STEM career

Abstract

This Innovative Practice Work in Progress Paper presents a pilot test designed to train university students of engineering degrees (mentors) to advise and guide students aged between 15 and 16 (mentees) in technological fields in different teaching centers in Catalonia. The first results suggest the high interest shown by the group in the talks of the mentors; a greater attention and predisposition of the male students are observed in the questions and interventions. The sensitization of the female group on STEM issues is surprising, although there is a low participation and interest shown by the topics discussed. All these aspects must be taken into account in the planning of future interventions.