The gender gap in fields related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) remains deeply entrenched across global society, while the percentage of female students in Japan pursuing degrees in STEM fields is reportedly far below the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average. For NEC, STEM is an area in which it truly excels, as technology is one of its core strengths. This spurred NEC to consider having female employees interact with female junior high and high school students who are near to choosing a path forward in hopes of helping them discover new potential career opportunities. In this edition of NEC Stories, we will explore the responses of students who participated in a recent program focused on the theme of working in the space domain, where female employees shared the allure of their work.

The fascination of working to create something that will one day become commonplace

While the eyes of some students lit up when one of the NEC employees introduced herself, stating, “I design robotic arms used at the International Space Station,” others nodded deeply as another employee said, “I feel incredibly fortunate that someone like myself, who has a humanities background, is now working in the field of space, something I once gazed at through a telescope as a child.”

A “Girls Meet STEM” program was held at NEC’s head office in Tokyo on August 21. NEC has participated in this program organized by the Yamada Shintaro D&I Foundation since it began in 2024. Three female employees from NEC’s Aerospace and National Security Business Unit took part in the program, which drew approximately 40 students. At NEC, which has supported Japan’s space development efforts for over half a century, more and more women are playing active roles as the company’s space business continues to expand.

During the first half of the program, which included self-introductions, sales representative Sumire Enomoto spoke about what she finds fascinating about her job, explaining, “I find it interesting to consider what kind of satellites would benefit our society in the future.” Then, Nami Tanoue, a second-year employee responsible for controlling ASNARO-2, NEC’s small radar satellite talked about her role, stating, “My work brings me a tremendous sense of fulfillment as it involves monitoring the safety and security of our lives from space.” Finally, Riko Tachikawa, a second-year employee in charge of designing machinery that is operated in space, shared, “I find joy in the potential of creating something that will one day be commonplace.”

Making the mind shift from “That seems difficult” to “I think it’s something I can actually do”

For the second half of the program, participants split up into six discussion groups. In response to questions posed by the students about how they decided between the humanities and the sciences and whether studying history would be helpful for those who go into the sciences, the employees answered with genuine conviction, “I made my decision based on what I wanted to do rather than what I thought I was or wasn’t good at,” and “Ultimately, whatever you study will prove useful.”

Slight changes began to emerge through these interactions. When asked for their impressions of the program, one student after another provided positive feedback, including: “I assumed their jobs were too serious, but the employees we met were friendly, and now I think it’s actually something I could do” and “Up until now, I had no idea what path I wanted to take, but learning that even those who choose to pursue studies in the humanities can play an active role in STEM fields made me feel like there are many possibilities.” Some students even said this program changed their image of NEC, with one explaining, “While I originally had the impression that it was a rigid company, this program showed me that NEC is focused on helping society.”

It seems the participating employees also came away inspired, with one stating, “It renewed my determination to continue working hard,” and another expressing her future aspirations, saying, “I want to continue gaining experience and studying so that I can be more confident when responding to questions.”

Social value creation is the means by which NEC aims to fulfill its Purpose. We hope that expanding the circle of those who share our vision through programs like this will not only serve as a catalyst for students contemplating ways to unleash their own potential but also enable NEC to create new social value.

Recommended Articles

NEC Stories Top