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Policy

Policy Developments in Ireland

Timeline of Key Policy Developments
2005	Launch of the Women in Science and Engineering Programme. This SFI scheme focuses on the 3 R’s: Recruit, Retain and Return. Recruit The SFI Junior Scholarship – Young Women in Engineering aims to attract and encourage more high-achieving young women into third-level education in engineering disciplines and to support them during their undergraduate years. Retain The SFI Institute Planning Grant (IPG) provided an opportunity for 11 higher-education institutes, including Trinity College Dublin, to conduct a self-assessment of women’s participation in science and engineering research activities and research management. The SFI Institute Development Award (IDA) offered selected universities an opportunity to establish long-term sustainable initiatives aimed at enhancing the participation of women in science and engineering research. Trinity College was one of three institutions selected and WiSER was established as a result. Return The SFI Principal Investigator Career Advancement Award (PICA) was established to support researchers who have interrupted their careers for maternity, adoptive, carers or parental leave. Ten researchers received these awards, of whom three were from Trinity College. Further information on the recipients can be found here.
2004	Forfás Report on Science and Technology in Ireland showed the increasing numbers of women undergraduates in science, who accounted for more than 50% of science undergraduates in 2002, though only 17% of engineering graduates.
2004	The “Danger: Men at Work” study conducted by WiSER director Caroline Roughneen for the Department of Education and Science examined the causes behind the disproportionately low numbers of female engineering students at third level. A broad study of final year school students aimed to ascertain the real or perceived obstacles to girls taking up engineering at university level. The report then identified practical measures to increase the number of young women choosing to study engineering at university.
2002	Mentorlink Mentorlink was established through the Equality for Women branch of the NDP as a 3-year project for advancing women in engineering. Mentorlink aimed to support women in engineering by creating networks for women, as well as a database of mentors who could become role models. Their work primarily addressed the retention of female students in engineering and the career advancement of female graduates entering the workplace.

Last updated 25 June 2012 by WiSER (Email).