On Sept. 29, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid hosted its annual Society of Women Engineers (SWE) event in Spain, a day full of activities that brought together 131 people. Seventy-seven professionals and representatives of leading companies in the engineering and technology sector attended, along with 54 students. In total, 82 people attended on site and 49 attended online.
Welcoming Inclusion and Diversity
The day began with a warm welcome by Inga Urbina, SWE global ambassador in Spain, leader of the Barcelona SWE Section, and SWE senator. Urbina highlighted the importance of this type of event to boost the presence of women in the world of engineering, a central objective of SWE globally. She also emphasized the inclusive nature of the event, creating a safe space where all opinions are welcome and where attendees feel comfortable to share their experiences.
Urbina introduced Anabel Fraga, Ph.D., professor of programming, information engineering, knowledge engineering, software engineering, systems engineering, and systems quality at UC3M and leader of the student section of SWE Universidad Carlos III Madrid. Dr. Fraga welcomed the attendees to Universidad Carlos III and gave way to Paloma Diaz and Eva Blázquez.
Sharing Perspectives: From Academia to Business
After the welcome, Paloma Diaz, director of the Polytechnic School of Universidad Carlos III, highlighted the value of diversity in the technological field. Díaz emphasized the need to break with existing biases in technology and advocated for greater participation of women in the creation of fairer and more accessible technological solutions.
Eva Blázquez, vice chancellor for institutional relations, culture and equality at the university, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to promoting STEM careers among women. Blázquez stressed the importance of making female talent in technology visible and providing opportunities for women to reach their full potential in this field. She also announced the creation of 20 Ph.D. scholarships at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid aimed at women with excellent academic records, an initiative that seeks to boost the female presence in research.
Brain Drain: Analyzing the Phenomenon and Seeking Solutions
The panel on brain drain was moderated by Dr. Fraga and addressed a topic of great relevance for the future of Spain. Professionals who develop their careers abroad shared their experiences and analyzed the factors that motivate Spanish professionals to seek opportunities outside the country.
Speakers highlighted the need to improve working conditions in Spain, including more competitive salaries and greater respect for family reconciliation. They also noted the importance of providing greater visibility to existing opportunities in the country and facilitating access to leadership positions. Panelists also discussed the need to bring companies closer to universities and to bring large companies to smaller towns so that employees can have a better quality of life.
Companies Take the Floor: Professional Success and Challenges in the Industry
The panel of companies, moderated by Almudena Ruiz, project manager at Caterpillar, offered a view from the perspective of important companies such as Caterpillar, Dow Chemical, Telefónica, Emerson, and HP. The speakers, coming from different areas of engineering and technology, shared their career paths and offered advice to the students present.
They addressed crucial topics such as the importance of continuous training, adaptation to technological changes, and the search for opportunities in multinational companies that allow development in different areas and countries.
Noemí Álvarez, founding partner of Brainon, a technology-based company, highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship as a professional alternative. Álvarez, being a sociologist by training, shared her experience creating a company in a highly technological sector and encouraged students to pursue their dreams and to consider entrepreneurship as a viable option.
Public and Private Research: Looking for Synergy
The panel on public and private research brought together professionals with experience in both fields. They discussed the differences between the two research models and explored possibilities for collaboration.
Speakers highlighted the need to create more fluid communication channels between universities and companies, allowing a greater exchange of ideas and a better adaptation of research to market needs. This raises the opportunity to offer researchers internships at private companies “to establish contact between where the brains come out and where those ideas can be applied,” explained panelist Luna McGill.
Voices of the Future: The Student Panel
The annual event also provided a space for STEM majors to share their concerns and perspectives. Moderated by Sofia Garcia Escribano, an industrial engineering student, the panel was attended by students from different branches of engineering and mathematics.
Panelists discussed topics such as career choice, the gender gap in STEM, the match between curricula and rapid technological advancement, and the social responsibility of engineers.
The students highlighted the importance of receiving family support and having female referents in engineering. They also pointed out the need to encourage interest in STEM careers from an early age through educational programs that break down gender stereotypes and show the diversity of engineering applications in solving social problems.
Regarding social responsibility, students agreed that STEM careers should instill the spirit of contributing to the betterment of society. Engineering education should go beyond the mere acquisition of technical knowledge, encouraging creativity and the search for solutions with a positive social impact.
The Value of SWE: A Supportive Community for Students and Professionals
The closing of the event reaffirmed the value that SWE offers to its members, both students and professionals alike. The benefits of belonging to this community were highlighted, including mentoring programs, access to a wide network of professional contacts, and professional development opportunities.
SWE’s annual event in Spain was an inspiring day that highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in the engineering and technology sector. The voices of students, professionals, and company representatives came together to reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector and to reaffirm SWE’s commitment to parity and empowerment of women in engineering and technology.
Inspiring Talk: The World Belongs to the Brave
Sandra Ribote told us her own story exemplifying how the key to success is not avoiding falls but getting up stronger. Resilience and small habits can transform our lives and careers. This talk gave way to a safe space to share doubts, concerns, and reflections. In the end, we learned that the human brain is designed to make the best decisions; and then things happen.
Paloma Escalona from Emerson expressed, “I loved the energy of the business panel, and I liked the idea of connecting universities with business. There were many moments of reflection and exchange of opinions. It is an inclusive event, in general.”
