Intel has this year for the second time come together with the Centre for Talented Youth Ireland (CTYI) to deliver a program which invited female students aged between 15 and 17 to participate in weekly engineering based classes which were facilitated through the Centre’s existing structure.

The CTYI is the only organisation in Ireland providing challenging academic programs for young people with high ability. The Centre, which is based in Dublin City University, runs enrichment courses in subject areas ordinarily unavailable at school. This Intel supported initiative was implemented with the aim to introduce young females to the world of engineering and the opportunities associated with careers in this area.

The CTYI was developed to give high ability students access to courses, not ordinarily available in the secondary school curriculum. Drawn typically from a university curriculum, the courses open up new avenues of learning, and opportunities for greater challenge and stimulation than students would be used to at school. Students may also use this as an opportunity to trial‐run a university course that they may be considering for after they leave school.

The Centre for Talented Youth Ireland –Intel Engineering Program began in October with 18 participants and ran each Saturday for 10 weeks giving the students the opportunity to explore a variety of aspects of engineering including Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronic Engineering and Computer Engineering. The pilot program was designed to introduce the female participants to the broad world of engineering, an area which in career terms is typically very under- represented by females.

On Saturday December 6th Intel held a special graduation ceremony for the participants of the program inviting them and their parents to the Leixlip campus to see and hear about the work that Intel is involved in and to meet with some Intel employees.

Paul Phelan of Corporate Affairs at Intel Ireland addressed those attending the graduation ceremony “Engineering is at the heart of what we do here at Intel and we require some of the brightest minds on the planet to make our technology possible – unfortunately, women continue to be under-represented in the field of engineering and every year for example there are approximately 6 males for every female beginning engineering courses at third level. This program has provided us with a unique opportunity to share with young females the world of engineering, its increasing relevance in our modern society and the career opportunities that it holds. We are delighted with how well this pilot program has gone and with the positive feedback we have received from those participating”.

Director of the Centre for Talented Youth Colm O’Reilly also attended the graduation ceremony and added “Research has shown that there is a shortage of females studying engineering. CTYI is delighted to partner with Intel Ireland on a new engineering course for teenage girls. The results have been hugely positive with almost every student in the class now contemplating a career in this area”.