Northgate Managed Services supports Northern Ireland’s first all-girl ICT conference
19 October 2009
GLENGORMLEY HIGH SCHOOL PUTS THE I.T. IN FEMININITY Belfast’s Waterfront Hall opened its doors to 500+ female school pupils today for a special ‘Girls Only’ ICT event designed to highlight the exciting career opportunities in what is predominantly perceived as a ‘male’ industry.
Organised by Glengormley High School and ICT Academy, one of Northern Ireland’s specialist ICT schools, the ‘FemininITy’ conference is a first for Northern Ireland. It is one of the latest in a range of ICT initiatives pioneered by the school.
Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane attended the event along with leading females within the ICT industry including figureheads from Microsoft and Google as well as representatives from Northern Ireland’s Universities. Several interactive workshops were held throughout the day with topics ranging from the practical side of ICT to the future of robotics. The workshops incorporated break out sessions allowing the pupils to put questions to the guests, discuss some of the stereotypes that surround the industry and the prospects available should they decide to pursue a computing related career.
Speaking at the event, Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane commented: “It is vital that today’s female pupils are aware of the excellent careers available within the software profession and that they make informed subject choices based on this. It is a well known fact that the ICT industry is typically viewed as a male dominated sector and I would like all our young people to have the chance to excel in these areas. I’d like to congratulate Glengormley High on hosting a wonderful event in an attempt to dispel these myths for good and get the north’s female pupils thinking about ICT. Hopefully they will be inspired by the successful women they have met here today and will themselves make steps to becoming the leaders of the future.”
During his address, Glengormley High School principal, Alex Hayes took time to thank the Minister and industry representatives, “After many long nights and lengthy meetings, we are delighted to have made it to the day of the conference and have our vision of a ‘girls only’ ICT conference realised. We, as teachers, are excited about the prospects within Northern Ireland’s ICT industry and we want to encourage that excitement in all pupils, especially girls. I would like to extend my gratitude to all partnering bodies and organisations, as without their participation and generosity, this event wouldn’t have happened.”
Stuart Gunning, Regional Director, Education, Northgate Managed Services Commented “We are delighted to support Glengormley High School in this initiative and congratulate them in a highly successful event. As a leading IT company, working with every school in Northern Ireland we are committed to working with young people including females to encourage them into a career in IT. We already offer a number of initiatives including career workshops, IT apprenticeship schemes, graduate placement and training programmes and were pleased to be involved in this event to further promote IT as a career for girls”
The event falls under the ‘BringITon’ banner; a partnership between Momentum, the Department for Employment and Learning, Invest Northern Ireland and eSkills UK that encourages GCSE and A-level pupils to consider a computing related pathway through school and at University.
Pictured above is Lauren Armstrong, IT apprentice and Stuart Gunning, Regional Director, Education both Northgate Managed Services.
