By Business & Finance 
Recipients of the Shannon Women in Technology scholarships are pictured withJan O’Sullivan, Minister for Education and Skills
A special event was hosted in Limerick to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Intel Shannon Women in Technology Scholarship programme.
The Intel Women in Technology Scholarship programme provides a unique opportunity to encourage a new generation of high-achieving young people to take up the challenge of a career in science and technology.
The programme invites applications each year from girls completing Leaving Certificate and going on to begin third level degree courses in science and technology-related disciplines.
The scholarship involves a €3,000 award for each year of the degree, as well as the provision of an Intel mentor and the opportunity to complete summer internships at the Intel Shannon facility.
The Women in Technology scholarship programme has been a crucial element of the overall strategy to increase gender diversity for Intel and since it was first introduced over €800,000 has been invested in the programme.
Speaking at the event Minister Jan O’Sullivan commented: “I am thrilled to be involved in celebrating 10 years of the Intel Women in Technology Scholarship. Encouraging more young women to have an interest in and to acquire STEM skills and move into STEM related careers will help Irish companies secure the talent they need to remain competitive on the domestic and international stage. The strongest talent pipeline for the future is one which is fully representative of both women and men as the demands of tomorrow’s economy will be complex and dynamic, requiring a diverse mix of skills and perspectives.”
Brian Aherne, general manager, Intel Shannon, added: “At the heart of Intel Shannon’s growth and success for the past number of years has been a diverse and dynamic workforce. With talent being such a core ingredient to our success it is clear to see why we are passionate about encouraging and inspiring the next generation of tech innovators and this programme exemplifies not only our commitment to education, but also our commitment to diversity. We have invested over €800,000 in this programme since it first began and I am extremely proud of how the programme has developed with 37 scholarships being awarded since 2006.”
