Building Confidence, Interest, and Opportunity: A Social Cognitive Career Theory-Based Analysis of the Young Women in Engineering Outreach Program

Women remain under-represented in engineering despite efforts to increase gender diversity. Early exposure to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) enhances young girls’ confidence, interest, and career aspirations. This study applies a Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT)-based lens to evaluate the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra Young Women in Engineering (YoWIE) outreach program, which engages secondary school girls (aged 14-17) through hands-on engineering activities, mentoring, and industry interaction. Drawing on participant reflections, mindset development and qualitative feedback, this research explores how the YoWIE program cultivates self-efficacy, shapes outcome expectations, and supports the development of STEM-related interests. The findings show that YoWIE helps students break down gender stereotypes, broadens their understanding of engineering, and develops a sense of belonging in a usually male-dominated field. The findings provide practical insights for educators, policymakers, and outreach practitioners looking to improve the pipeline for future female engineers through early, targeted intervention.