Girls get the ITB tech message

GIRLS from four local secondary schools paid a visit to the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown (ITB), last week to get a taste of technology.

It was all part of ITB’s Young Women in Technology project that offers female students in second level schools an opportunity to experience the world of tech.

This was the fifth year of the event and following on from previous great successes, 40 lucky Transition Year students arrived on ITB campus from May 10-12 for their experience.

This year, the students came from Coolmine Community School, Colaiste Pobail Setanta, Riversdale Community School and Mount Sackville.

The Women in Technology Project is an initiative that reflects the global push to boost the appeal of science, technology, engineering and maths amongst young women.

Over the three days of the project, the girls attended Computing and Creative Digital Media Clinics along with Engineering workshops and field trips to PayPal and Google.

The project was established to help promote computing, technology and engineering as career choices for female students and a key focus of the programme is to introduce positive female role models to the participants.

ITB are hoping the programme will increase applications from females in local schools for engineering and computing third level courses. 

“The Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB) established the Young Women in Technology Project in 2011,” said ITB Access Officer, Adrienne Harding.

“It was designed to increase awareness of computing and engineering courses amongst female second-level students.

“The project runs over three days, two of which are spent in ITB, where the girls take part in computing and engineering workshops.

“On the third day, the girls take part in an industry visit.

“The industry visit is a key component of the project as it gives the girls a real insight into the technology sector and allows them envisage how their future might look if they pursue a technology course.”

ITB’s main partners, Paypal, facilitates students with a visit to its premises in Balycoolin as part of the project.

Louise Phelan, vice president of Global Operations, Europe, Middle east and Africa, PayPal, said: “I’m a big believer in diversity; that’s why I encourage more women to seek leadership positions and roles in industries that traditionally have been dominated by men.

“Diversity of thought is critical to the success of every business. For me, it’s not about giving women an advantage; it’s about levelling the playing field.

“In our efforts to achieve that, I’m delighted to partner with our neighbours in the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown on the ‘Young Women in Technology’ initiative.”

Over the past five years PayPal has welcomed more than 150 young women as part of the Young Women in Technology project’s industry visit.

“It is great to be able to give women the opportunity to learn more about working in PayPal and I hope our efforts help to boost their confidence in their own abilities and encourage them to look at technology as a potential and rewarding career path,” said Phelan.