STEMAspire Connects Glasgow Students to Role Models

Dell EMC Glasgow launched our STEMAspire Program on the 1st November 2017, working with 26 students from City of Glasgow College, University West of Scotland and Glasgow University.

large group of women and girls

The purpose of this 12-month initiative is to connect female STEM students to role-models within Dell EMC. Our objective is to encourage and empower these students to graduate and to have successful and rewarding careers in the Technology sector.

“The genesis of the program rose from a discussion last year between myself, a member of Dell’s Talent Acquisition team, and University College Cork (UCC) student Louise Fox at a networking event,” said STEM Aspire founder Jacquie Casey. “The alarming rate of females dropping out of computer science studies within third level colleges was a point of concern for us both.”

As our colleague Laura-Kate McElligott noted here on Direct2Dell earlier this year “The fact is that unless we as females take the risk and make the choice to work in the STEM field, then society will never change.”

Students meet with their mentors monthly and participated in group quarterly events building on their skills, getting each student ready for their career journey.

Throughout the mentoring program Vardah Malik (Mentee) and Pam Lister (Mentor) will be blogging bi-weekly on their learnings & experience, inviting participation from industry & the wider student community, sharing experiences and hopefully some practical advice.

Malik’s first post is below. Please help support Dell EMC & our STEM students as we embark on this journey together.

STEMAspire logo

“I currently study IT at City of College Glasgow. I wanted to be part of the STEM Aspire program with Dell because I believe it gives me a great opportunity, as a woman to prove myself in the world of technology.

The support and guidance the STEM Aspire program has given me is truly life-changing. My Mentor, Pam Lister, works hand in hand with me on my career aspirations and supports my study goals. I have been fortunate to be introduced to a network of supporters in Dell, who are willing to invest in my development in the IT Industry.

Being the social media representative for STEM Aspire has encouraged my confidence to be the best representative I can be and to inspire other women to be part of this life-changing program in the future.

I am really excited and fortunate to be a part of this amazing program as well as to gain more knowledge and confidence by being around all these amazing people in Dell.”  — Vardah Malik

About the Author: Kirsty McLaughlan

Kirsty McLaughlan is a STEMASpire Ambassador who has been part of the DellEMC organization for 5 years in various currently working as a Project Manager for Technical support. Kirsty is a program lead for STEMASpire & will be responsible for blogging on Direct2DellEMC and Direct2Dell, sharing experience & best practice for the inititive she helped launch for EMEA Glasgow in 2017. This is a program Kirsty is very passionate about as the focus is on creating an inclusive & diverse environment in industry as well as supporting & empowering women to graduate in their academic at university, with an opportunity to create a new generation of talent. Before joining DellEMC in 2013, Kirsty spent 12 years working within the Insurance & Finance Industry.