- Holds panel discussion to encourage enrolment of women in engineering
- Highlights contributions and achievements of female engineers
New Era College recently celebrated Women in Engineering Day with a series of events and activities.
To mark the occasion and celebrate female engineers trained there, the college organised a panel discussion and gala dinner under the theme “Make Safety Seen – Safety Health and Environment for Women In Engineering.”
According to Deena Ghodrating, the Marketing and Communications Manager at New Era College, the idea was to inspire and motivate female students to consider engineering as a viable and rewarding career choice. Ghodrating emphasised the importance of breaking down gender stereotypes and creating a supportive environment for women pursuing engineering. The event highlighted the achievements of female engineers who have made significant contributions to various fields, including civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science.
The panelists, who were women from across the engineering spectrum, stated that women have started taking up space and positions in the male-dominated engineering industry. Said Tarisai Chigodora, CEO of Dichaba Consumer Electronics: “A woman needs to be seen and heard. If you are in a workplace, your work needs to communicate that you are there to solve problems and perform duties diligently. Let it make noise for you.” The CEO of New Era College, Amos Thapisa, said the college aims to encourage more women to pursue engineering and promote diversity and inclusivity within the engineering industry.
He explained that the event was planned with the aim of providing a valuable opportunity to recognise the accomplishments of women engineers and foster a supportive community for aspiring female engineers. As part of their vision to be a leading institution offering engineering courses in Africa, Thapisa noted, New Era has realised that females still enrol in low numbers. Even so, he added, women have good representation in engineering jobs sector where at least 45 percent of their engineering students are employed and 10 percent own their businesses.
Thapisa said that females continue to demonstrate good skills and understanding of engineering as he has witnessed them excel tremendously at the college throughout the years. Typically observed on 23 June each year, Women in Engineering Day is celebrated globally to recognise and promote the achievements of women in the field of engineering. The day aims to raise awareness about the opportunities available to women in engineering and to encourage more young women to pursue careers in this male-dominated field.
