Energy sectors need diversity. Huges Greder, an R&D Engineer at the TotalEnergies Pau Site and also a temporary professor at the University of Pau and the Pays de l’Adour, points out nonetheless that of the 50 students studying the energy transition and efficiency professions course - MT2E - only four are young women. Equal numbers of young men and women study the scientific baccalaureate, but the balance tips in higher scientific and technical education, on courses that young women overlook all too often, either because they are not well-informed, or because of established societal models. According to the professional branch of IEG², women working in energy hold mostly managerial functions (30%), followed by supervisory functions (27%). N.B. One in five women working in the energy sector is a senior executive, which means that it’s a promising future sector for young female students!
To promote this, we looked back on the experience of Julie, 20 from Bielle (Bearn region), Sana, 20 from Habas (Landes region), Laetitia, 21, from Ainhoa (Basque country) and Mélie, 20 from Albi (Tarn region), who were sponsored by TotalEnergies and TWICE, its inhouse network for the promotion of women’s careers, to attend the first Next GEN’ergy conference. It was held in March in Paris over two days, where the many, deep discussions with prestigious speakers, aimed to educate, make accountable, inspire and involve young professionals and students in the energy transition across Europe.
That ambition was achieved. While attending the conference, the four MT2E students from the IUT in Pau were supervised by Camille Jaganathen, Digital Solution Deployment Manager for the Company. One of the key takeaways from the conference was meeting inspiring women who reassured them about their career choices and emphasized the importance of creating a network for their professional future.
[1] International Labor Organization
[2] Electricity and Gas Industries