Big rise in number of women in automotive and mechanical engineering programmes

An unprecedented number of women are enrolled in automotive and mechanical engineering programmes at Otago Polytechnic this year.

Seven women are enrolled in our New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering (Level 3) programme; four in the Certificate in Automotive and Mechanical Engineering (Level 2); and the Otago Secondary Tertiary School Automotive (Motor Industry) (Level 2) programme has three young women.

In addition, three women are enrolled in our New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3) programme.

“On top of that, we have four or five young women doing apprenticeships,” says Hamish Miller, Senior Lecturer and Programme Manager of Otago Polytechnic’s Automotive programmes.

“So they are out in the workforce. They have taken that next step, and have been accepted by an employer.”

Hamish says the number of women enrolled this year has increased by up to 50% on the previous year.

In the past the intake had been as low as one or two.

Hamish works closely with industry to ensure students are given the skills they need to match the current automotive industry climate.

“It’s great to see a rise in the number of women getting into such trades,” he says.

Read the Otago Daily Times article

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