Edel Spillane
AVP Human Resources, Unum
A company that runs a summer intern initiative for female tech students is attracting more women into the sector while providing them with an invaluable learning opportunity.
How do the STEM industries attract more women to their ranks? It’s not a simple fix and has deep roots, admits Edel Spillane, AVP Human Resources, Unum Ireland.
Female-only intern initiative to close tech gender gap
The tech sector is a case in point. Unable to recruit or retain enough female professionals, it remains largely male-dominated. “Part of the issue is the low number of women studying tech courses in third-level education,” says Spillane. “What makes the problem even more acute is that a number of those students leave before they graduate because they don’t fully understand the kind of careers and progression paths open to them.”
To help solve this early exit problem and to increase its own female representation, the Unum operation in Ireland runs a female-only intern initiative at its Technology Centre in Carlow. Launched in 2022 in collaboration with several Irish universities, the Summer Taster for Women in Technology is open to second-year tech students and offers hands-on learning opportunities with a female mentor while showcasing the range of careers available.
Students are also encouraged to apply for Unum Ireland’s nine-month intern programme, which is open to men and women. “That programme was only attracting 10%–20% of females before we launched the Taster,” says Spillane. “Now it’s closer to 40%–50%.”
These programmes not only inspire but
also equip women with the confidence
and knowledge to pursue roles that
align with their individual interests.
Bridging academic knowledge with real-world application
Rebecca Doolin, Vice-President External Affairs at Maynooth University — one of the universities working with Unum Ireland on the Summer Taster — believes that placements like these provide invaluable experiential learning opportunities that enhance students’ career readiness. “They help bridge academic knowledge with real-world application,” she adds, “offering students early exposure to professional environments and potential career paths they may not have previously considered.”
Amanda Freeman-Gater, Assistant Head of Computing and Mathematics Department, SETU (South East Technological University), agrees. “By providing immersive, real-world exposure, these programmes not only inspire but also equip women with the confidence and knowledge to pursue roles that align with their individual interests and aspirations,” she says.
‘Summer Taster’ success and perception change
The Taster certainly aims to show interns what a real career in tech is like. “The students are surprised by the number of female leaders in our organisation,” says Spillane. “They like what they see here and are amazed by the many different career avenues open to them. It’s been a real success.”
The industry and academic partnerships are critical to our evolving workforce needs: unumjobs.ie
