New MTU research reveals confidence and participation gap in BIS
Despite strong academic performance by female students, new research from Munster Technological University (MTU) has highlighted a persistent gender gap in confidence and participation among students in its Business Information Systems (BIS) programme.
The research was revealed as MTU welcomed the announcement of funding for three first-year BIS scholarships by Cognizant, a global technology services company, with offices in Dublin, Cork and Waterford.
This year’s scholarship recipients are Katie O’Sullivan (Mount Mercy College, Bishopstown), Ava Mae Edwards (Saint Mary’s Secondary School, Mallow), and Natasha Fouhy (Saint Mary’s High School, Midleton). The three students were honoured at a ceremony in the MTU Council Room, where Catherine Murphy, Senior Lecturer, Project Lead for the Cognizant Scholarship programme welcomed the award recipients and parents.
The BIS programme at MTU is recognised by industry partners for the quality of its students and graduates, with placement students in high demand each year due to their practical skills in project management, data analysis and systems design. BIS graduates progress into a broad range of career paths, including project management, data analytics, business analysis, and second level computing education.
Dr Noel Murray, Dean of the Faculty of Business at MTU, said “We’ve partnered with Cognizant to demonstrate continued support for our students, especially given this important research. While the findings show that female students are achieving strongly, they also highlight ongoing challenges around confidence and participation. This partnership enables us to better understand those barriers and take action, ensuring our programmes are inclusive and aligned with the needs of a modern, diverse workforce.”
Cognizant has also supported the new research project examining female participation in the BIS programme, reflecting a shared commitment to broadening access and encouraging diversity in technology focused disciplines.
Survey findings show that:
Female enrolment in the programme remains consistently low, despite female progression rates being comparable to, and in some cases exceeding, those of male students.
Gender-based differences in confidence, career orientation, and perceptions of BIS, with female students demonstrating strong awareness of career opportunities but lower confidence in their ability to succeed.
Evidence from the data gathered indicates that male students lean towards technical career preferences, while females tend towards business and leadership roles. Information gaps and lack of role models impact pre-tertiary female awareness of the programme, particularly coming from all-girls schools.
David Sheedy, Head of Cognizant Life Sciences Manufacturing Ireland, said: “The evolution of AI is rapidly reshaping the world of work and there is a growing demand for professionals with combined strengths in people management and technology. Through Cognizant’s Synapse initiative - which aims to provide 2m individuals with the skills and pathways required to succeed in the AI economy by 2030 - we’re helping to advance learning and development in our communities.”
The report into female participation in BIS, led by Joanne Cole and Dr Tom O’Mahony from the Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Student Engagement (TLASE) Research Laboratory at MTU, was also presented at the event. The report outlines key factors influencing female participation in MTU’s BIS programme.