The award-winning STEM Passport for Inclusion Programme is looking for new mentors to sign up and encourage the next generation of STEM talent. By dedicating fifteen hours between now and April, mentors can provide guidance, share personal and professional experiences, and help young women and students from underserved backgrounds to build the confidence and skills they need to pursue higher education and careers in STEM.

A short training session will take place online on the 5th of November, giving new mentors the tools and confidence to get started. Anyone interested in becoming a mentor is encouraged to register their interest as soon as possible: https://lnkd.in/eGbCQUev.

STEM Passport for Inclusion is an initiative led by Prof. Katriona O'Sullivan at Maynooth University, in partnership with lead and founding partner Microsoft, which creates an innovative pathway for students from under-served backgrounds to third-level education by earning a Level 6 STEM qualification, work experience opportunities, and mentoring from inspiring industry role models.

The initiative is funded by Microsoft Ireland as part of its Dream Space STEM and AI education programme, Research Ireland and the Department of Education, as well as by many industry and education partners.

The mentoring programme is designed to be fully flexible and accessible. All mentoring takes place online and is supported throughout by the STEM Passport for Inclusion team, ensuring that volunteers are fully equipped to make the most of the experience. Crucially, mentors do not need to come from a STEM background or even work in STEM themselves; what matters most is their willingness to listen, support, and encourage the next generation.

Professor Katriona O'Sullivan, STEM Passport for Inclusion, emphasised the importance of this work, saying:

"STEM Passport for Inclusion has already reached thousands of young people since its launch, offering educational opportunities and support to students who are often excluded from pathways into higher education and careers in STEM. Mentorship is critical, providing students with role models who can guide and inspire them. Those who volunteer as mentors will not only impact the lives of individual students but will also contribute to building a stronger, more inclusive future workforce for Ireland."