EY Stem app launched in UAE and UK to inspire 100,000 girls to pursue careers in science

Accountancy firm wants to help close the gender gap

A new app being launched in the UK and UAE will encourage girls to pursue careers in science. Getty Images

More than 100,000 teenage girls are being encouraged to pursue a career in science and technology with the launch of a new app.

Accountancy firm EY is launching an app to encourage girls, aged 13-18, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem).

The launch follows a successful pilot of the app in India and the US.

The app will now be introduced in seven countries, including the UK and the UAE.

“Advancing girls’ skills and interests in Stem is vital to closing the gender gap,"Julie Linn Teigland, EY's managing partner, said.

"It’s crucial that women and girls have the opportunity to realise their full potential as leaders and change-makers in a world increasingly enabled by technology.

"We’re proud of the success the EY Stem App has had so far and rolling the app out to more countries is an important step forward in making Stem learning more accessible and rewarding for girls across the globe.”

The EY Stem App was developed by EY teams in collaboration with SkillsVR, an organisation dedicated to developing potential talent through immersive learning.

It features modules and activities focused on science, such as climate change and space exploration.

Activities on the app were developed in collaboration with the UN and the World Economic Forum and are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

They will allow the youngsters to earn Global Goals digital badges as they progress.

“The EY Stem App is a fantastic programme and taking part as a mentor is a real privilege," said Nayana Mitter, EY's associate partner.

"I have a background in Stem and through the programme I was able to share my learnings with the girls, while also reflecting and offering insights based on my own experiences. I hope the EY Stem App will encourage the girls taking part to shed their fears about studying and pursuing careers in Stem, and that as the programme grows it continues to help girls around the world navigate real-world challenges as they build their careers.”

The app reached more than 7,000 girls when piloted in New Delhi, Seattle and Atlanta.

The free-to-use app connects girls with a wide range of learning activities from exploring new technologies, such as AI and blockchain, to learning how design thinking can help solve some of the world’s toughest challenges.

Supported by inspirational stories of pioneering women, the app aims to nurture confidence and competence in Stem and develop skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving, creativity and systems thinking, and social skills and teamwork.

It gives the users hundreds of activities in bite-size steps, such as watching a video, answering thought-provoking questions or carrying out an experiment.