Role Model Day Press Release Feb.
2002
Female
scientist and engineer “role models” to be used to tackle low uptake of
scientific careers by girls– Minister launches WITS Role Model Project (
Thursday 7th February 2002)
Yesterday
evening (Thursday 7th February) the Minister for Education and
Science, Dr. Michael Woods launched the WITS
Role Model Project at
a reception in the RDS, Ballsbridge.
It is
well-documented that a very effective way of encouraging girls into science,
engineering and technology (SET) is through Role Models. WITS was commissioned
by the Department of Education and Science to carry out this project which
consists of two parts, a Role Model Pack for third level colleges and a Role Model Booklet in CD-ROM format for secondary
schools.
The Role Model Pack explains to third level colleges how and why they should to run a role model day. It provides advice in the planning and running of role model days. A role model day provides a unique opportunity for schoolgirls to meet working women scientists, technologists and engineers. The day is aimed at girls in transition year and fifth year. It allows them to hear about real career paths and to identify with women who have succeeded in both traditional and non-traditional areas. Every effort is made to illustrate a wide variety of careers and to highlight many which may not require high points. A typical day involves an introduction to career planning, interactive workshops and an informal discussion session.
Responses to the role models days from the participants and from colleges have been enthusiastic. Role model seminars do not concentrate on specific courses and points, but aim to kindle the interest of the participants in a wide range of career options. The role models speak about their day to day life, not just their job description. At the heart of the role model day is the element of personal contact.
In collaboration with colleges, WITS has organised several role model days since 1993. By means of the Role Model Pack it wishes to disseminate the role model concept and methodology to third level colleges around the country so that many more students can benefit. Feedback from secondary students has consistently been positive. Comments such as ‘It has given me direction and helped me to realise that all these careers are available for women’ and ‘It has broadened my image of where science can lead' were received after a Role Model Day organised by Cork Institute of Technology.
The Role Model Booklet produced by WITS is in CD-ROM format and contains career profiles of women working in science, engineering or technology (SET). Forty women working in SET share their work experiences and tell of the day to day reality of their jobs. They provide a picture of the wide variety of rewarding, exciting and well paid jobs which a scientific, engineering or technological training provides. The Booklet contains profiles of jobs as diverse as animal nutritionist, art conservator, computer software specialist, meteorologist, electrician and civil engineer
The low uptake of science and technology subjects by girls in schools and at third level is cause for concern for the future, from both the economic and the social perspective. It is hoped that the Role Model Booklet will encourage girls to consider science and technology as real career options. The CD-ROM will be circulated by the Department of Education and Science to all secondary schools.
WITS, founded in 1990, is the Irish association
for women in technology and science. As a voluntary organisation, WITS actively
promotes the participation of women in all areas of science, engineering and
technology. By supporting this WITS project the
Department of Education and Science is recognising the importance of Role Model Days as one of a series of measures
to help ensure equality of opportunity in SET. It is also consistent with its
broader mission to address the decline in students studying science, and in
particular the physical sciences. For
more information refer to WITS website: www.witsireland.com