Institute of Technology Blanchardstown Lead the Way for Young Women In Technology alongside PayPal

The Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown are again running their innovative annual project entitled, “Young Women in Technology”. The project is an opportunity for female students in second level schools in Dublin whilst creating awareness about technology.

Following on from the success of the past four years there will be 40 female Transition Year students on campus from Coolmine Community School , Colaiste Pobail Setanta, Riversdale Community School and Mount Sackville this week as part of the Young Women in Technology Project an initiative that reflects the global push to boost the appeal of science, technology, engineering and maths amongst young women.

The project runs over three days from May 10th to 12th May and will see the girls attend Computing and Creative Digital Media Clinics along with Engineering workshops and field trips to PayPal and Google.

The Young Women in Technology Project was established to help promote computing/technology/engineering as a career choice for female students with a key focus of the programme to introduce positive female role models to the participants who have opted to be original and engage in a career that is traditionally more male dominated.

ITB hope that the programme will increase applications from females from local schools onto engineering and computing third level courses. ITB also hope to encourage some levels of entrepreneurship so students may consider acquiring practical business skills as part of a PLC or third level course.

An integral part of the programme is field trips with the students visiting ITB’s main partners, Paypal offices in Balycoolin, Dublin. This is part of PayPal’s drive to encourage more women to seek careers in leadership, business and technology.

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

“We have been very fortunate to partner with PayPal on this initiative since its inception. Throughout the project PayPal has shown real commitment to promoting technology to females and we value the expertise, professionalism and fun they bring to the industry visits.”

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 leveling 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 we have welcomed more than 150 young women into PayPal as part of the 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.”