April 20, 2021 • 2 min read
Bridging the gap for diverse STEM opportunities in India
Did you know, India has one of the highest number of female graduates leaving university with a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related degree?
(Image from February 2021)
But according to the United Nations, only 14 percent go on to work in one of these areas after graduation.
In February 2021, after initial delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, 165 graduates started our graduate development program across various disciplines, including engineering, project management, project delivery, and construction. But what makes this intake extra special is that 44 percent of this group are women.
A diverse new chapter
“This is the largest intake of graduates we have ever had at Worley, India,” says Lavanya Desai, Graduate Attraction Manager for India. “And while this percentage of women is something to celebrate this year, I hope that it will become an industry standard for all STEM positions in the near future.
“We’re pleased to have achieved a representation that matches the percentage of students graduating from STEM university courses in India. And if we can do it, there’s no reason that others can’t as well. There’s no excuse.”
Changing perceptions and highlighting potential
Achieving this near 50/50 gender ratio did not occur by luck. It came after a hard-fought campaign by the India talent team and fully supported by India’s leadership. From October 2019 to early 2020, they attended student recruitment fairs across the country, covering a total of 36 universities and colleges.
“Our research highlighted that many students – specifically women – didn’t know much about Worley and what we do as a company, so they actively chose not to apply,” explains Desai.
“To change this perception, we invited leaders from our Indian operations and project teams to tell students about their experiences, career potential in engineering, and the vision of Worley’s future,” Desai adds.
Diverse solutions for the energy transition
Dinesh Pissurlenkar, President of the Asia region at Worley, was one of these leaders.
“Engaging with the students was fantastic,” he says. “Our industry is going through a transition, and we have to tell future leaders about this and what it means. A homogenous workforce creates homogenous solutions. And as the digital revolution and the energy transition take center stage, we need new and diverse talent to deliver Worley’s vision of delivering a more sustainable world.”
Want to be part of our future? Visit our early careers page, where we will soon be accepting applications for our next intake of graduates.
