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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

Women Engineers Igniting Ford

Staff, Friday June 29, 2001.

Page 1 of 1

Ford received 168 applications Australia-wide for the first round of five scholarships offered in 2001 and is expecting an even bigger response with the national launch of the 2002 scholarships this week.

The Ford Australia Women in Engineering Scholarships are designed to encourage women to undertake university studies in various engineering fields and to pursue a career in engineering.

Another five scholarships are available for 2002 with successful applicants receiving $8000 per annum over four years, representing $32,000 for each scholarship winner.

As well as the monetary benefit, the program involves each scholarship winner being linked with a female mentor working in engineering and management at Ford.

Dr Peter Hodgson, Professor of Engineering at Deakin University, described the Ford scholarship program as a "farsighted initiative which is helping to redress the gender imbalance in the automotive industry as well as the engineering profession."

"Women make up 52 percent of the world's population but they are still dramatically under-represented in both the automotive industry and the engineering profession. It is exciting to think how greater input from women could eventually change the face of both fields," he said.

Recent statistics have shown women make up just 14.8 percent of total students enrolled in undergraduate degrees in engineering Australia-wide.

One of five inaugural winners of the Ford Australia Women in Engineering Scholarships, Jemma Wayth, 18, is a good example of how the Ford program is encouraging women to enter engineering.

Now midway through her first year studying electronic engineering at Deakin University, Jemma originally discounted engineering as a career before she read about the Ford scholarship. Her curiosity led her to research career options in engineering and she was pleasantly surprised.

"I thought of civil engineering and I wasn't interested in building bridges. But then I looked at the available engineering courses more closely and I realized there were so many other areas you could go into," she said. "And when I really thought about it, I realized electronic engineering really made sense for who I am. I have a strong interest in electronics and I like to know how things work. I'm a person who will always ask, 'How does it do that?' "

While the money is an obvious benefit of her scholarship, she said the mentoring aspect was equally important.

One of Jemma's mentors is Katherine Franz, a business graduate working in manufacturing management and Ford Geelong Engine Plant's Area Manager. As she progresses through her studies, Jemma keeps in touch with Katherine and recently spent the day at Ford observing Katherine at work.

"We toured the plant and I saw Katherine undertaking production meetings, dealing with people at all levels, trouble-shooting problems. She was someone I could relate to and it broadened my understanding of what engineering is about and the options available to me at the end of my studies."

Ford Australia President, Geoff Polites said he was delighted with the success of the program. "It has exceeded our expectations in terms of public interest and the positive feedback from Ford mentors about the enthusiasm and commitment of the winning students," he said.

"As we turn ourselves into a consumer company we need to ensure that we have a workforce that both reflects the total population and also is tuned into the wants and needs of all consumers.

"By expanding the number of female engineers and encouraging them into careers with Ford, we think we are making a positive move in this direction."

The program involves one scholarship being provided on an annual basis through each of five participating universities:

• The University of Queensland

• RMIT University

• The University of Sydney

• Deakin University

• The University of Melbourne

To be eligible, applicants must be female Australian citizens or permanent residents completing year 12 in 2001 and commencing engineering studies in 2002.

To reflect the diversity of careers available within the engineering profession, the scholarships are offered across the disciplines of manufacturing, mechanical, mechatronics, electrical, biomedical, electronics, aeronautical, robotics, aerospace, computing and metallurgical.

Subject to the successful completion of their degree, successful applicants may have the opportunity to work with Ford in a variety of engineering roles.

Applications for 2002 scholarships can be made through each of the five participating universities and must be submitted before 26th October 2001.

Further information can be found on Ford's website: www.ford.com.au Brochures are also being mailed to every secondary school in Australia and directed to the school's career advisor.

For further information contact:
Ford Australia Communications
Phone: 03 9359 8491

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