I WISH Campus Week extended

An organisation that aims to encourage female transition year students to consider careers in science and tech has expanded its programme to more universities.

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is a programme that encourages transition year students to pursue a career in the industry. I WISH (Inspiring Women in STEM) Campus Weeks specifically aim to inspire female transition year students to consider careers in STEM.

Chartered engineer and lecturer of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at CIT, Dr Mary Moloney said: “We have welcomed over 420 female transition year students to our campus over the past five years. The Campus Week gives girls an insight into working in the STEM industry and our evidence clearly illustrates that it encourages them to pursue a career in STEM. We’re delighted today to be joined by some of the 2016 CIT I WISH campus week alumni, who are now studying STEM courses at CIT, and will participate in hosting the week with us.”

Over five days approximately 200 female transition year students will attend leading higher education institutes and experience the broad applications for STEM. They will hear from teachers and students.

By 2020 over 22,000 girls will have attended I WISH events since 2015. I WISH have already sold out their showcase event on Thursday 30 and Friday 31 January in City Hall and limited spaces remain for the event on Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 February in the RDS, Dublin.

Co-founder of I WISH, Gillian Keating said: “Along with the I WISH showcase events in Dublin and Cork, the Campus Week model represents a core element of I WISH and we are delighted to be expanding the campus weeks to four higher education institutes this year.”

The campus weeks will be held in Cork Institute of Technology, Trinity College Dublin and University of Limerick, on the Monday 13 to Friday 17 January. The Campus Week in University College Dublin will take place on the Monday 27 to Friday 31 January.