St Kevin’s students are inspired by DreamSpace
By William O'Connor
To mark Girls in ICT Day, Microsoft welcomed over 80 girls to its campus for a special DreamSpace event to inspire them about the opportunities unlocked through STEM and meet with young successful women who are blazing a trail by harnessing the power of creativity and technology.
Students from St Kevin’s Girls National School in Kilnamanagh were invited to DreamSpace – Microsoft’s education hub – to undertake a special immersive digital skills experience.
Pupils from St Kevin's Girls National School in Microsoft
With sessions in MicroBit coding and 3D paint modelling to foster critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills, the girls were empowered to succeed into the future through STEM subjects. The event is a key element of Microsoft’s #MakeWhatsNext campaign which aims to encourage young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
The students also had the opportunity to meet with young successful women, who have used their digital skills to succeed.
12-year-old EU Digital Girl of the Year 2018, Aoibheann Mangan spoke about how her interest in coding and the importance of digital skills to empower girls to become future leaders. Entrepreneur Nicki Hoyne, founder and CEO of My Shining Armour, shared how technological innovation supported her online accessories business, and encouraged the girls to open their minds to the career opportunities that emerge in the STEM space.
In marking Girls in ICT Day Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland said: “At Microsoft we want to inspire, excite and encourage Irish girls to achieve more through technology and become our next digital leaders. With women currently representing only 30% of Europe’s ICT workforce, it’s important that all girls are able to see a path for themselves in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths so they can not only imagine tomorrow’s world but play an active role in building it.”
