Mentoring Program

In 2022, the Nuclear Women's Association Foundation conducted a case study among female students of technical universities in Russia. The study revealed a number of barriers, including social and psychological barriers, that hinder the career development of girls in STEM fields. The vast majority, 70%, of female students surveyed feel difficulties in building a career in science and technology. 44% of female students, before entering a science and technology field, encountered the stereotype that STEM fields are for men. 37% of girls noted a lack of knowledge about their specialty before entering university, and 35% were not confident in their abilities. In addition, about 39% of girls faced discrimination from teachers.

In order to motivate girls to develop careers in science-intensive and high-tech fields and to increase the number of women employed in STEM fields in order to reduce gender inequality in accordance with the UN SDG #5, an international format of mentoring sessions for female students of technical universities in Russia and abroad was initiated.

The mentoring sessions format uses a peer mentoring approach, where female experts demonstrate female leadership role models, share knowledge and personal experience on career development in STEM fields. Sessions aim to overcome barriers faced by girls in science and technology disciplines.

Women in STEM events have been organized since 2021. Over 10 in-person, distance and hybrid events have been held during this period. The mentoring sessions were attended by more than 70 female specialists from ROSATOM and foreign countries (Indonesia, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Vietnam, India, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, etc.), more than 250 female students of technical universities in Russia and foreign countries (IATE MEPhI in Obninsk, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Lomonosov Moscow State University Branch in Sarov, LETI St. Petersburg State University, Istanbul Technical University, and others).