Progress is for life, not just for International Women’s Day
The 30% Club Ireland has announced a programme of 30 postgraduate and executive education scholarships to women as part of its efforts to bring about better gender balance within senior teams and boards of Irish organisations.
The 30% Club, whose aim is to achieve better gender balance at all levels in leading Irish businesses, is partnering with a range of education providers to provide this programme. The scholarships will be in a range of executive education disciplines including prestigious MBA programmes and technical masters programmes in STEM, Healthcare, Public Policy and other specialist areas.
The scholarship programme has been in place since 2015. It aims to raise participation rates for women in, and general awareness of, executive education and to provide financial support for women interested in executive education, who may be limited by funding concerns.
Gillian Harford, Country Executive with the 30% Club commented: “International Women’s Day takes place on March 8th. But it is about more than celebrating just one day, it is about taking real and practical steps that will help to bring about more balanced investment in talent and career progression.
“Having offered just three scholarships in year one, we are delighted now to be offering 30 scholarships for 2020”, said Ms Harford. “In addition to providing great opportunities for talented women, the programme allows gives us and our education partners to encourage more diversity in executive classrooms.”
The programme will be promoted directly within the 260 member organisations of the 30% Club and through social media on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Ms Harford continued: “Women make up more than 53% of the students graduating from third level education in Ireland, with a quarter of those female students studying business, administration or law. Yet the numbers of women moving on to post graduate and executive education is dramatically lower.
“Executive education is a strong enabler of senior career progression, so the under-representation of women can be a strong contributing factor to the slow progress in achieving better gender balance of talent at senior teams and boards of Irish organisations.”
