Role models and academic experts from across the technology sector are set to join forces to encourage more young women to consider careers in the industry.
South East Technological University (SETU) will hold its annual Women in Technology event for second and third level female students later.
The initiative, now in its sixth year, was launched to challenge the perceptions of technology that are often held by young women.
The event at the SETU Arena in Waterford today aims to grow young women's understanding of technology and give them an insight into the career paths that are available to them.
Over 1,000 female students from Cork, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford attended last year’s event.
This year, attendees will hear from inspirational keynote speakers who are leading the way in the field of technology.
These include two-time Irish Olympian and software developer at Sun Life, Phil Healy, and Likhitha Gaddi, a software engineer at Google.
The event will also feature exhibition stands from some of the south east region’s largest technology companies, giving students the opportunity to interact with professionals working in the technology, engineering, ICT, and software development sectors.
Assistant Head of the Computing and Mathematics Department at SETU Amanda Freeman-Gater said that events such as this one and encouraging more women into technology are essential for the future of the sector.
Ms Freeman-Gater said: "The technology industry needs more women studying the wide range of technological programmes available, including those at SETU.
"Graduates can go on to build careers in dynamic technical roles that offer flexibility and the chance to work collaboratively on innovative ideas, services, and products.
"Ada Lovelace is widely recognised as the world’s first computer programmer. We must now focus on developing the next generation of female tech talent to create a more balanced and inclusive workforce.
Women make up half the world’s population, so it is only logical they should make up half the workforce in technology," Ms Freeman-Gater added.
