4. Tackling Gender Imbalances in
Subject Choices and Careers
The College is taking a whole-college approach to tackling gender imbalances in subject choices
and careers. This whole-college approach reflects a strategic commitment at the highest
level of the organisation. Through this commitment, the College is enjoying significant, and
recognised, success in promoting gender equality. Award-winning awareness raising campaigns
such as #ThisAyrshireGirlCan are key examples of the College’s commitment to increase male
and female representation in subject choices and careers where under-representation currently
exists. In order to facilitate meaningful change and overcome the many significant and persistent
systematic and cultural barriers, the College will continue to embrace its role and position as
an influencer when engaging with young people, partners and employers. The way forward in
tackling gender imbalances in subject choices and careers therefore, is likely to take many forms.
Key Highlights
Formalised Gender Leadership Group, led by the Vice Principal, Strategy, Planning and
Performance, to fulfil Scottish Funding Council (SFC) commitments in delivering on a Gender
action plan. This Group and Plan will sit strategically alongside the VIEW Steering Group and
the Equality Outcomes 2017-2021
Secured commitment from partners across Ayrshire, including the three local authorities,
the employer-led Developing the Young Workforce Ayrshire regional group and the Ayrshire
Chamber of Commerce, to adopt a pan-Ayrshire approach to tackling gender imbalance
Successful, nationally recognised campaign #ThisAyrshireGirlCan continues to inspire
women and girls to pursue careers in STEM and Construction. In 2016, the College marked
International Women’s Day by launching the #ThisAyrshireGirlCan film. Over 100 local
primary and secondary school girls and College female students attended the launch
opened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP. The film celebrates a series of female
students studying STEM courses at Ayrshire College including Modern Apprentices working
for companies like GSK, Hyspec Engineering and Spirit Aerosystems
Successful, nationally recognised campaign #WhatIActuallyDo continues to improve
perceptions of STEM careers among school pupils. The campaign, funded by Skills
Development Scotland’s Equality Challenge Fund, produced a DVD featuring female STEM
Modern Apprentices. The DVD has now been received by all primary and secondary schools
in Ayrshire to act as an engagement tool
Established “Ayrshire Connects”, a mentoring network for female STEM and Construction
students to support their retention, attainment and progression
Equality Challenge Unit (ECU)-Ayrshire College Attracting Diversity project focused on
increasing gender diversity in relation to the College’s three Foundation Apprenticeships:
Engineering, IT Software Development, and Social Services: children and young people
Successful, innovative marketing strategies such as case studies and blogs on the College’s
social media to encourage gender diversity in subject choices and careers
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