DkIT celebrates increasing number of female apprentices

DunDALk Institute of Technology (DkIT) are absolutely delighted to report a significant growth in the number of female apprentices who have recently enrolled in the Institute, which included an intake in Motor Mechanic, Electrical and Carpentry & Joinery Apprentices over the last 6 months.

Women make up less than 5% of the national apprenticeship numbers, so the recent increase of females registering in the trades heartens the Institute as DkIT is a proud supporter of equality in all industries and fields of education. DkIT is the recipient of the prestigious international Athena SWAn Bronze Award by AdvanceHE in recognition of its commitment to advancing gender equality in academia, and in promoting diversity and inclusion for staff and students in higher education, so breaking gender barriers is something the Institute constantly strives towards.

Dr Breda Brennan, who herself is the first female Head of School of Engineering in DkIT said; “We are absolutely delighted to see the substantial increase of females enrolling in Apprenticeships in the Institute. There are phenomenal opportunities for young women within the trades and we have had numerous extremely talented women who have completed their apprenticeships in electrics, mechanics and carpentry & joinery over the years. We have a long and proud history of female apprentices in DkIT, and we are delighted to report some of these women are now part of our teaching staff”.

Aoibheann Corrigan went straight from second level education into her Motor Mechanic Apprenticeship and is now on her phase 4 block said “I grew up around cars and my dad always had vintage cars at home which I loved working on, so starting an apprenticeship always made sense