Exodus of females from innovative STEM career pathways due to absence of structured transition systems that nurture career growth and stimulate interests to pursue a career in these fields.
INTERVENTION DESIGN
BRIDGE50 is designed strictly as a pilot, and the findings from this Project will determine if the intervention improves retention, and whether the model should be repeated, adapted, or discontinued.
The Project will be facilitated in the following phases :
Phase 1: Cohort Selection (2 Weeks)
Selection of 50 final-year female STEM students from two universities in Kwara State.
The application process will be through an open call and data collection platform will be Google forms.
Eligibility Criteria For Selection For Fellowship
– Motivation & Intent (Clarity of interest in innovation pathways and willingness to explore post-graduation opportunities) – 30 points
– Commitment & Availability (Ability to commit time and complete outputs) – 20 points
– Academic Standing (Stable academic progress) – 15 points
– Growth Potential (Evidence of curiosity, initiative, or early leadership) – 15 points
– Diversity & Inclusion (Socioeconomic background, first-generation learners) – 10 points
– Ripple Potential (Willingness to mentor peers and contribute to community impact) – 10 points
Total scoring for eligibility – 100
Applicants must:
– Be a final-year female student in a STEM-related course
– Be enrolled in a recognized university in Kwara State
– Be available for 1 session per week for 6 weeks
– Demonstrate interest in innovation, research, or technology-driven careers
Phase 2: BRIDGE50 Transition Fellowship (6 Weeks)
The fellowship will take place throughout at the ILORIN INNOVATION HUB
Weekly sessions (1 per week) covering any of these concepts:
– Innovation Pathways Mapping (research, industry, entrepreneurship)
– Opportunity Identification & Application Skills
– Practical Exposure to Innovation Case Studies
– Mentor-Led Career Clinics
– Project or Application Development
– Transition Planning & Post-graduation pathways
Each session will include:
• A defined output (CV, application, concept note)
• Reflection tasks
• Peer accountability
Phase 3: Short-Term Mentorship (8 Weeks)
Mentorship sessions will be fully virtual over 7 weeks
The last week will be a physical meeting session with mentors and mentees
Mentorship type will be group mentoring (1 mentor to 5–7 fellows)
Fixed duration of 2 virtual sessions per week to prevent burnout
The rest of the week will be mentor-mentees interaction tasks
Focused on transition decisions and applications
Phase 4: BRIDGE50 ONLINE PLATFORM
Establishment of a vibrant digital community that connects women and young ladies to career opportunities, including internships, scholarships, fellowships, innovation challenges, research opportunities, and job openings. The platform will facilitate peer learning, resource sharing, and collaboration across sectors.
Bridge50 online community established (Telegram Community)
Weekly engagement includes:
STEM Pathways webinars
Career opportunities
Internships
Scholarships
Fellowships
Innovation challenges
Research opportunities
Job opportunities
Community will be regulated by selected Admins (best fellows from the fellowship program) and various roles will be assigned to members in the community (admins, facilitators, innovators) to regulate community action.
PHASE 5 : BRIDGE50 × ACADEMIC INTEGRATION
The Bridge50 pilot project template will be submitted to universities and innovation hubs, one state at a time for integration into the final year curriculum to give the project a platform of continuity on an Institutional level. This will be facilitated after the assumptions are confirmed and post-evaluation metrics ascertain that this intervention solves the identified problem.
The project is designed to exhibit RIPPLE EFFECT MODEL whereby trained fellows will tell more undecided young women out there on how they can navigate the STEM and innovation pathways after graduation. It creates a chain reaction of women helping more women.
BRIDGE50 SUPPORTING DOCUMENT.pdf