Statistics have shown that this year there have been a greater number of female than male applications for Nuffield Research Placements (NRP).

The NRP programme provides engaging, hands-on research projects, where Year 12 students have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution towards the work of a host organisation through a well-supervised but independent research collaboration relating to an area of science, quantitative social science, computing, technology, engineering or maths (or a combination!). 

Data has confirmed that there are more female (52%) than male (48%) participants registered to engage in a NRP this summer.

NRP in the region is delivered by the North East STEM Hub which is delivered by RTC North. Rob Stobie, Enrichment Partnership Coordinator at the North East STEM Hub, works alongside host organisations to provide targeted students an engaging, hands-on research placement. NRP assists in the growth of confidence, helps apply skills and knowledge developed at school whilst also discovering possible career paths as they work alongside researchers and industry professionals.  

Rob Stobie comments:

“As females are largely underrepresented within STEM, it’s important to encourage young women into STEM careers and support them with their journey, so they don’t feel excluded. Women make up just 27% of the STEM workforce and NRP’s allow students to work with role models who provide inspiration and feed ambition. There has been a lot of research into females and STEM and many factors contribute to young women feeling less inclined to study a STEM subject, but this a promising statistic for the future as it’s contributing to showing an increasing movement of female representation in STEM.”  

For more information about the North North East STEM Hub, please visit North East STEM Hub :: Home page

To find out what kind of placements are available please watch our TikTok’s, visiting pupils on placements all over the North East last year: STEMHUBNORTHEAST (@stemhubnortheast) | TikTok