R8 WIE Programs

The IEEE Student-Teacher and Research Engineer/Scientist (STAR) Program was developed in response to concerns that girls may be discouraged from pursuing careers in mathematics, science, and engineering from an early age. This educational outreach program encourages IEEE members to engage with local junior high and high schools to promote a positive image of engineering careers.

Through direct interaction among IEEE volunteers, students, and teachers, the STAR Program aims to create a technical support network for educators and provide mentoring opportunities for students.

STAR

The STAR Program encompasses IEEE WIE pre-university outreach activities. Since the program was established in 1995, the continued growth of IEEE WIE Affinity Groups and membership, collaboration with IEEE Societies, and engagement with other organizations have enabled IEEE WIE to expand its pre-university outreach initiatives.

Through coordinated efforts and partnerships, IEEE WIE has reached more than 19,000 students annually. The mission of the STAR Program is to improve perceptions of engineering, encourage more girls to pursue engineering careers, and introduce all students to the many opportunities available through engineering and technology.

Get Involved

Even one volunteer can make a meaningful difference. If you are passionate about encouraging girls to become scientists and engineers, or would like to help address the barriers that discourage young women from entering STEM fields, learn more about the IEEE WIE STAR Program.

To ask questions or express interest in organizing a STAR activity, please email [email protected] or contact us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Additional STEM Resources

For additional Girls in STEM educational programs, visit the IEEE STEM Portal, which provides resources related to pre-university STEM programs and activities for IEEE volunteers.

IEEE Region 8 WIE Coffee Talks are small, informal group discussions on topics related to Women in Engineering. They allow participants to gain insights from the knowledge and experience of successful women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). WIE Affinity Group members and anyone interested in empowering women are welcome to participate.

How to Organize a Coffee Talk

• Invite a guest speaker to share their knowledge and experience on an interesting topic.
• Gather your WIE Affinity Group members and other interested participants for a round-table discussion.
• Enjoy coffee and refreshments while taking part in an interactive discussion.
• Share your event with IEEE Region 8 WIE. We will help spread the word about your Coffee Talk and promote your successful event to inspire others.

The IEEE Region 8 WIE team encourages Affinity Groups to host a Coffee Talk at least once a month. Coffee Talks are easy to organize, and sharing knowledge matters. Creative and influential discussions can lead to new opportunities and ideas for future activities. Make the most of the opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together.

To share photographs and information about your events, or to ask any questions, please email [email protected] or contact us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

IEEE Region 8 is one of the most diverse regions within IEEE. As a result, women engineers across the Region’s countries face different challenges, and a single solution cannot meet every community’s needs. The SMART Program aims to develop tailored solutions for the specific challenges women engineers face within each Section of Region 8, enabling WIE Affinity Groups to initiate meaningful and sustainable change in their communities.

Objective

To encourage WIE Affinity Groups across IEEE Region 8 to support women engineers in their communities through plans tailored to the challenges and difficulties they face within their respective Sections.

Methodology

Each WIE Affinity Group, or group of Affinity Groups within the same Section, is requested to prepare a SMART plan that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. The plan should be based on relevant data collected from civil authorities, questionnaires, or other reliable sources.

Guidelines

• Create a questionnaire or collect data from relevant authorities to identify the challenges faced by women engineers in your country. Examples may include companies being less likely to hire women in technical fields, women engineers requiring additional practical training, a lack of programs supporting women returning to work after maternity leave, or limited interest among girls in pursuing engineering. Keep in mind that some of these challenges may affect people of all genders.
• Identify the challenges your Affinity Group can address and develop a time-bound plan for each one. Examples may include establishing partnerships with companies to provide annual training opportunities for IEEE WIE members, organizing a nationwide campaign to introduce schoolgirls to engineering, or adopting the STAR Program. The plan should reflect the actual needs of your community. For example, communities where girls already demonstrate strong interest in STEM and engineering may not require extensive awareness campaigns.
• Develop a schedule covering the entire year and clearly address all the challenges identified during the previous steps. Progress against this schedule should be reviewed regularly.
• Ensure that the plan is developed and implemented as a team effort so that responsibilities can be transferred smoothly when the Affinity Group’s executive committee changes.
• Where appropriate, align the plan with the goals and priorities of IEEE Region 8.
• Aim to achieve measurable long-term improvement. When the same questionnaire or assessment is conducted again after three to five years, the results should demonstrate positive change.

To ask questions or express interest in implementing the SMART Program within your Section, please email [email protected] or contact us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Let us work together to create positive change through engineering.

How the Mentorship Program Works

The Mentorship Program begins with sharing successful events and activity ideas with IEEE Region 8 WIE. Please email [email protected] or contact us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Through this program, you can:

• Participate as a mentor: Suggest a successful event organized in your Section that you would like to help replicate in another Section.
• Participate as a mentee: Suggest an event you would like to organize in your Section, and we will help connect you with a mentor who has previously organized a similar activity.

Suggested Events and Activities

The following list provides examples of activities that may be shared through the Mentorship Program. Affinity Groups are also encouraged to develop new ideas that respond to the needs of their members and communities.

Participation in Section and Student Branch Activities

Section and Student Branch Affinity Groups can participate in activities organized within their respective Sections and Student Branches. Examples include:

• Represent IEEE WIE at Section events whenever possible.
• Volunteer to support Section activities such as conferences, workshops, and meetings.
• Organize a short plenary or information session during IEEE Day and other events to introduce IEEE WIE.
• Engage with your Section when planning your own events, as the Section may be able to provide support and resources.

Networking Activities

• Organize or participate in WIE Leadership Summits.
• Organize a panel featuring two to five successful women in STEM who can present short talks and interact with attendees during a question-and-answer session.
• Organize WIE Coffee Talks.
• Host seminars about women in STEM, including their achievements, current status, and the challenges they face.
• Organize or participate in activities celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8.
• Contact companies in different technology sectors and offer to introduce IEEE and IEEE WIE to their employees through a short information session.

Professional Development Events

• Leadership workshops
• Body language workshops
• Interview training sessions
• Engineering ethics discussions

Social Responsibility Activities

• Provide introductory computer or internet training in remote or underserved communities.
• Organize or participate in a breast cancer awareness campaign during October.
• Visit orphanages, hospitals, or refugee camps and spend time supporting members of the community.
• Collaborate with a charity or nongovernmental organization and offer technical expertise or volunteer assistance.
• Collaborate with organizations supporting women and participate in their activities whenever possible.
• Develop an engineering solution to a community challenge or participate in EPICS in IEEE.

Technical Events

Although IEEE WIE, like other IEEE Affinity Groups, has a nontechnical focus, Section and Student Branch Affinity Groups are encouraged to participate in technical conferences and workshops organized within their Sections.

• Volunteer with the organizing team.
• Support event promotion and help share announcements.
• Distribute informational materials introducing IEEE WIE.
• Present small appreciation gifts to women researchers, paper presenters, or speakers.
• Host an IEEE WIE booth and distribute informational and promotional materials to participants.
• Organize technical or nontechnical competitions and develop creative ways to engage attendees.

Collaboration Among Affinity Groups

• Section Affinity Groups are encouraged to maintain regular communication with Student Branch Affinity Groups within their Sections.
• Section Affinity Groups are encouraged to identify Student Branches where new WIE Student Branch Affinity Groups could be established and support them during the formation process.
• Section Affinity Groups are encouraged to supervise and mentor newly established Student Branch Affinity Groups.
• Student Branch Affinity Groups are encouraged to maintain regular communication with their Section Affinity Group.
• Student Branch Affinity Groups should collaborate closely with their Student Branches and support one another’s activities.
• Remember that collaboration is key to success.

Social Activities for Members

Do not forget to have fun. Consider organizing social activities for your Affinity Group members and, where possible, for members of other Section and Student Branch Affinity Groups.

• Casual outings
• Movie screenings or cinema visits
• Pizza nights
• Camping or ski trips
• Group games, such as escape-room activities
• Sports tournaments
• Paper rallies or similar team activities

The WIE Chapter Liaison Officer (WIE-CLO) initiative aims to appoint a WIE Liaison Officer within each IEEE Technical Chapter in every Section. For example, if the IEEE Jordan Section has five Technical Chapters, each Chapter would nominate one WIE-CLO.

The WIE-CLO is responsible for promoting the IEEE WIE mission, vision, programs, and activities within their respective Technical Chapter. The eligibility requirements and responsibilities of the role are outlined below.

Eligibility

• The nominee must be an IEEE member and a member of the relevant IEEE Technical Society. Membership in a WIE Affinity Group is preferred but not mandatory.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Promote IEEE WIE within the local Technical Chapter.
• Facilitate coordination between the Section WIE Affinity Group and Technical Chapters to organize joint activities.
• Conduct statistical analyses of women’s membership and participation within Technical Chapters.
• Share relevant activities, feedback, reports, and updates with the IEEE Region 8 WIE Committee.

We welcome your feedback and engagement in this initiative and greatly appreciate your continued collaboration in strengthening the presence of IEEE WIE and increasing the participation of women in engineering and technology.

Key Objectives

Current IEEE Region 8 WIE Programs

• Coffee Talks
  
• SMART
  
• Mentorship
  
• STAR
  
• WIE Chapter Liaison Officer (CLO)