| RoleModel Project |
Jobs for the Girls
A new career guidance CD for school girls, featuring
women role models with exciting and varied careers in science, engineering and
technology.
Meet a poisons expert who works as a health and safety inspector, a forensic scientist who helps solve
crimes, an engineer who has designed power systems for space satellites, a meteorologist with a special
interest in sea conditions, and a software developer who is fluent in several (computing) languages.
These are just some of the 40 women featured in a new career guidance CD, produced by WITS. This 'role model' project aims to encourage more schoolgirls to
consider studying and working in the relatively non-traditional areas of science, engineering and
technology. The project was launched on May 28th 2003, by Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Education
& Science. The initiative is funded by the Department of Education & Science, under the National
Development Plan (NDP).
The Role Model CD-Rom, profiling 40 women role models has been sent to all post-primary schools in the country. Read the profiles of the 40 women role models here
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The Minister took the opportunity of the CD launch to announce the setting up of a new committee to advise
on policies, strategies and actions needed to increase the number of girls studying science subjects at second
level, and the number of women choosing science, engineering and technology courses at third level. The
Minister invited WITS to be the first organisation to join the new committee.
Read the Minister's Speech here
Read the Press Release here
At the launch of the CD were: school transition year students Michelle Kavanagh (left)
and Selina Glynn, from St Dominic's Girls School (Ballyfermot, Dublin), Dr Eucharia Meehan (WITS
chairperson), Ms Trish Madigan (science teacher, St Dominic's), and Minister for Education & Science, Noel
Dempsey.
Role models can be a valuable and positive influence when it comes to choosing school subjects and careers.
This is especially true for girls who might be considering a career in areas more usually associated with men,
such as engineering.
The new CD profiles 40 women 'role models' across a wide range of science, engineering and
technology careers. The women on the CD tell their own story, the subjects they studied at school and
college, their career path, and what their day-to-day life is like. A copy of the CD is going to every
post-primary school, so that schoolgirls around the country can (virtually) meet these women, and learn
what their work entails.
The role model project was welcomed by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. The institute's
president, Mr Brian Mooney, said: "We need to get across the message to girls at school that there are
women working in these non-traditional areas." Mr Mooney, who is also on the board of the national
Expert Skills Group (addressing the fall off in students studying science and technology), added that "it
is very important that we also encourage both girls and boys to study science".
This view was echoed by Mia Delaney, a career guidance counsellor at St Dominic's girls school in
Ballyfermot, Dublin. "Women are not traditionally to the forefront in science and engineering careers,
so we need more role models for girls to emulate."
The Role Model Project is supported by the following:
Background
The aim of the project is two fold:
1. The overall objective of the project is to increase the number of secondary school girls who can experience a role model day by increasing the number of role model days run by colleges. This can be achieved by disseminating a Role Model Pack to third level colleges. The pack will be a resource for colleges wishing to run their own Role Model Seminars.
2. To produce a resource to inform and interest girls in careers in science and technology, in the form of a Role Model Booklet. The booklet is also for the use of teachers, especially career guidance counsellors and S&T teachers.
Progress to date on Phase 1
Role Model Pack
The Role Model Pack is now complete. It provides detailed informationabout how to plan for and run a role model day and gives a comprehensivedescription of a typical role model day. It includes the necessary forms, brochures, letters and literature in hard copy and computer disc format so that each college can adapt to their own needs as required.
Role Model Booklet
The WITS team identified 40 role models across a broad range of scientific, engineering and technological careers. The scripts received are lively and reflect the scope and flexibility which a scientific or technological training provides.
WITS team selected the production of the Booklet on CD-ROM as the preferred option because it is an attractive and accessible medium for the schoolgirls. The Role Model Booklet on CD-ROM will be accompanied by a poster to generate interest and to encourage the school girls to explore the Booklet. The finished CD-ROM will be available in December 2001 ready for dissemination to schools, career guidance teachers, science teachers, education centres and libraries.
The team:
The WITS team includes current and former WITS Executive Committee
officers and members with extensive experience in role model activities as
follows: Jacqueline Allan, (former Chairperson of WITS), Helen Hughes,
Marion Palmer, ( Lecturer in Science Teaching, Dun Laoghaire Institute of
Art, Design and Technology) Anne Byrne ( Irish Times, Education and
Living) Lynda Mullan (Physics Teacher), Sara Bourke, Jane Hanly, Anne Graham and Kitty Kelly. The WITS team was assisted by a Project
Assistant, Nuala Cuffe, with administrative assistance from Emer
O'Sullivan.
Launch of Role Model Project
The Launch of the Role Model Day is to be held in Bank of Ireland
Arts Centre or possibly in the House of Lords Room in College Green,
Dublin. Bank of Ireland will provide the venue free of charge as a means of
supporting WITS. The launch is planned for December at a time and date to suit
the Minister for Education and Science.
Next Steps - Phase 2
At this point WITS is now in a position to commence Phase 2 of the RoleModel Project i.e. promoting the role model concept to colleges and assisting 6 colleges around the country to run their own Role Model Days. Initial contacts have been made with several Institutes of Technology around the country who have expressed interest in running Role Model Days in the academic year 2001/2002. WITS support to colleges in Phase 2 of the project will include:
- Introduction to the Role Model concept & guidance on use of the role model pack
- Advice on organisation of role model day
- Assistance in locating role models
- Liaison where required with schools, sponsoring bodies and local industry
- Assistance on the role model day
Phase 2 of the Project will take place in the time period from February 2002 to June 2003.
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