RECENT RESEARCH BY THE
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
AND TECHNOLOGY REVEALED
THAT, WHEN ASKED WHAT
SUBJECTS THEY ENJOY AT
SCHOOL, 39% OF GIRLS SAID
THEY ENJOY INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY, COMPUTING AND
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY.
This research shows there is a clear
interest in STEM areas that doesn’t
translate to the number of females
entering the engineering industry
as the percentage of females who
make up the current engineering
workforce in the UK is
only 6%.
#ThisAyrshireGirlCan aims
to address this imbalance by
encouraging, empowering and
motivating more females to choose
careers which are traditionally
perceived to be male roles.
To mark International Women’s Day
on 8 March and the first anniversary
of the #ThisAyrshireGirlCan
initiative, Ayrshire College Students’
Association launched the official
#ThisAyrshireGirlCan DVD, with a
little help from First Minister Nicola
Sturgeon.
The DVD features female students
who have chosen to study subjects
12
which aren’t traditionally associated with
females. It is hoped that the initiative will
highlight the fantastic opportunities available
to women through studying STEM subjects at
Ayrshire College.
Primary and Secondary school pupils from
across Ayrshire attended the event and got
the opportunity to hear Nicola Sturgeon’s
thoughts on International Women’s Day - a
day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural
and political achievement. There was also an
opportunity for selfies with the First Minister!
THE STUDENT VOICE: SPRING 2016