Ford launches Women in STEAM scholarship

Ford Australia and Deakin University have partnered to launch the Women in STEAM Scholarship, which aims to support women in pursuing their educational and career goals in fields such as digital technologies and computer science.

The STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) scholarship is the largest of its type offered within the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment at Deakin University in Melbourne, Victoria.

It's estimated by 2030 Australian workers will spend 77 per cent more time using computer and mathematics skills, however, women only account for 16 per cent of University and VET  (Vocational Education and Training) graduates from STEAM-based courses.

The Ford Australia Women in STEAM Scholarship will be open to second-year female students in an approved undergraduate program offered by the aforementioned faculties at Deakin University's Waurn Ponds campus in Geelong, Victoria.

A pair of $12,500 scholarships will be offered across two years, the first being awarded this year and the second to be handed out in 2019.

“STEAM education, combined with a diverse workforce, is critical to building a pipeline of talent for Australian innovation,” said Jess Selvay, innovation lead at Ford Asia Pacific.

“Ford Australia wants to encourage and motivate young women in fields of study that are traditionally male-dominated, to help them become innovation leaders in Australia and women who drive change.”

It's not the first time Ford Australia has sponsored a scholarship program with Deakin University, most recently committing ten $10,000 scholarships to outstanding second- or third-year engineering students at ten partner universities around the world.

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