An outreach programme founded in Trinity College Dublin to help address the gender imbalance in Computer Science has been recognised in a new national report launched by Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton.
CodePlus, which was established in 2015 by the School of Computer Science and Statistics in collaboration with Trinity Access Programmes, was created to support adolescent female students in making informed decisions about studying Computer Science. Since then, the initiative has grown into a national programme operating in partnership with Lero, University of Limerick and University of Galway.
The newly launched long-term impact report highlights the scale and success of the programme, showing that more than 23,000 female post-primary students have taken part in CodePlus to date, with 6,450 participating in activities and learning during 2024/25 alone.
While now national in reach, CodePlus remains an active and important programme at Trinity, where workshops and a range of additional events continue to run throughout the academic year, introducing students to coding, Computer Science pathways and role models working in the technology sector.
Professor Brendan Tangney, one of the founders of the programme, said:
“It has been a long journey since the projects inception but it was great to have the Minster launch the report and to be able to celebrate the collaboration with University of Limerick, the University of Galway and Lero. It was especially gratifying to have two alumni of the program, Amy Dunne and Klaudia Obieglo, there to speak so eloquently about the impact it had on them and their subsequent careers in Computer Science.”
At the report launch in Galway, CodePlus alumni Amy Dunne and Klaudia Obieglo spoke about how the programme influenced their educational choices and careers. Both participants went on to study Computer Science at Trinity College Dublin and now work in the technology sector.
The report notes that CodePlus has helped participants build confidence with technology, develop teamwork and communication skills, and make more informed decisions about studying Computer Science and related disciplines.
The continued success of CodePlus reflects SCSS and Trinity’s long-standing commitment to widening participation, promoting diversity in STEM, and ensuring that more young women can see a future for themselves in Computer Science.