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Technology is for girls! FIT Info Days starting 13th February

02/02/2017 | TU Graz news | Studies

By Susanne Eigner

Place in the leture hall, great career opportunities: nevertheless some girls shy away from mechanical engineering, physics and all the rest. The “Women in Technology” Info Days at TU Graz are meant to put this right.

G like Gender Equality, G like Girls: The FIT Infoday breaks down psychological barriers and shows girls their equal opportunities in Science and Technology. © Lunghammer - TU Graz
There may be a lot of differences between girls and boys but one thing is definitely the same: the aptitude for science-technology studies and the great career prospects afterwards. After all, among the roughly 13,000 students at TU Graz, only some 3,000 are women (22.8 per cent).

“It’s both our wish and obligation to encourage girls to take up a technology or science degree. The proportion of women among TU Graz students is only increasing slowly – too slowly for my liking. Because we know that girls and technology go together wonderfully, the annual FIT Info Day is a great opportunity for girl pupils to be convinced of this,” emphasises Harald Kainz, Rector of TU Graz.

Verena Rexeis of TU Graz coordinates FIT activities in Styria and adds: “The reservations many girls feel regarding science and technology are unjustified. We want to break down psychological barriers and cordially invite all women pupils to become aware of their own possibilities.” 

FIT info and taster days demonstrate possibilities

At the FIT Women in Technology Info Day at TU Graz on 13th February, the programme includes the range of science and technology courses offered by the Styrian higher education institutions and universities of applied sciences, a panel discussion with women technologists and a lunch with women students.

Apart from TU Graz, also taking part are the University of Graz, the University of Leoben, FH CAMPUS 02, FH JOANNEUM, FH Burgenland, the Chemistry College, HTL-BULME College and the HTL Ortwein School. On the 14th, 15th and 16th February, girl pupils have the opportunity to take part in taster days at the above-named educational institutions – but they have to register at the FIT Info Day on 13th February.

Apply now: summer holiday placements for girls at TU Graz

The summer holiday job programme “T³UG – Teens Tackle Technology” offers girls from 16 to 18 the possibility to do a four-week, paid placement at TU Graz. The pupils are integrated into the scientific daily activities of the institutes and participate in the preparation of courses and research activities. They are supervised by a member of the scientific staff – if necessary also after the holiday placement, for instance in school projects or when choosing a study programme or profession. Registration at the FIT Info Day is a precondition to getting on one of the much sought-after 100 placement places.  Further Information on the summer holiday job programme can bei found on the „T³UG – Teens Tackle Technology" Website.

Information

FIT-Women in Science and Technology
Infoday 2017

Time: Monday, 13th February 2017, 9.00 p.m.
Place: TU Graz, Petersgasse 16, Lecture Hall P1
Registration and further information: www.fit.tugraz.at
To the FIT-Women in Science and Technology Styria Facebook page Hilary Moisa studies Software Developement and Business Management at TU Graz. On the occasion of the FIT Infoday 2016, she shared her experience, why "There's no reason for girls to feel anxious".

Contact

Verena REXEIS
Mag.rer.nat.
Coordinator „FIT – Women in Technology Styria“
TU Graz Office for Gender Equality and Equal Opportunity
Phone: +43 316 873 6096
Mobile: +43 664 4194234
Email: v.rexeis@tugraz.at