Young women at UTCs are celebrating Ada Lovelace Day on 10 October 2017 to mark the continual importance to inspire women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
More than 200 years since Ada Lovelace was born, women still make up only 21% of the core STEM workforce . However, it is predicted that in engineering alone the UK will need 157,830 people qualified at Level 3 (equivalent to A Level), or above, per year until 2024 .
UTCs, set up to address this skills gap, are a new breed of technical school for 14-19-year olds specialising in subjects like computer science, cyber security and engineering. They include some pioneering young women students who are setting their sights on becoming the next Ada Lovelaces, despite being in a minority in the classroom.
Examples of students at UTCs
Abi Hirons (16) wants to work in F1 and she came a little closer to achieving her dream last month when her team won ‘fastest car’ at the F1 in Schools World Finals in Malaysia.
Prianna Jhita (17), from Leamington is taking steps to ensure she can launch a career in aerospace engineering. Along with eight fellow students, she runs Edge of Space, a project to launch helium balloons and rockets into space to take photographs of Earth. The group use the pictures to assess the effects of the diminishing greenbelt, traffic pollution and global warming.
Kearney Sullivan (17) has her sights set on becoming a quantity surveyor or civil engineer. She plans to start an apprenticeship when she finishes her studies.
Daisy Gundry is studying engineering, chemistry, physics and core maths. She wants to go into the pharmaceutical industry.
Akwande Khonjelwayo (17) is studying maths, engineering design and chemistry so that she can become a chemical engineer
Charles Parker, CEO of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust says:
At UTCs we see girls really enjoying leading, inventing and developing technical projects which involve the latest skills in areas like computing, robotics and engineering. There are not nearly enough women in STEM, which is why Ada Lovelace’s story is still relevant today. At UTCs the number of girls is still less than boys. We are committed to encouraging more girls to shine in STEM and urge them to visit a UTC open day to find out more.
Founder of Ada Lovelace Day, Suw Charman-Anderson adds:
Ada Lovelace was one of the earliest women in technology. She was a visionary from the Victorian era who had the creative insight to go beyond the mechanics of the Analytical Engine to see that it was not just a machine for calculating numbers, but would be capable of creating graphics and music. Lovelace’s insight was born of her interest in both the arts and technology. She was not just the first computer programmer, she was a fantastic role model who was ahead of her time. I’m delighted UTCs are recognising Ada Lovelace and keeping her story alive.
The mission of UTCs is an important one: To equip their 14-19 year old students with a strong hands-on technical education that prepares them for a fulfilling and exciting career in STEM. We have not just a STEM skills shortage here in the UK, but also a shortage of technicians, so the UTC are a much needed addition to our educational landscape, providing a broader set of options for students interested in STEM.
More information about UTCs: www.utcolleges.org
