TechnologyOne supports women in STEM with new $30,000 Swinburne University Scholarship

Swinburne University of Technology has announced the first recipient of the Adrian Di Marco Women in Software Development scholarship, designed to encourage young women who want to develop their skills in the tech industry.

The scholarship recipient, Teisha Damman, started her Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology this year. She wants to build a career in cyber security, drawn to the industry’s ability to create safer environments online. To help support her through her studies, she will receive $10,000 towards her tuition every year over the next three years thanks to this new scholarship sponsored by TechnologyOne.

Swinburne, one of Australia’s top 20 universities, is focused on delivering a high-quality student experience for people wanting to enter STEM industries. Scholarships, like the Adrian Di Marco Women in Software Development, give students the support they need to focus on their studies while alleviating the financial burden.

With Australia ranking at number 11 out of 69 of the most expensive places to live, TechnologyOne’s CEO Ed Chung said: “All Australians are affected by the cost-of-living crisis, but the student population is probably hit the hardest. This scholarship is an opportunity to support the next generation of coders, architects and entrepreneurs who will power Australia’s economy.”

Recognising technology will continue to be a key contributor to the economy and society, the Commonwealth Government is focused on delivering more jobs and more funding within the industry, including achieving 1.2 million jobs by 2030.

According to the Hon Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science, the Australian tech industry is the seventh largest employer in the country. Of that workforce, women make up 31 per cent according to Deloitte’s Access Economics 2022 Employee Survey.

Mr Chung said: “In a very male-dominated industry, TechnologyOne will continue to encourage more women to explore a career in STEM through scholarships like these, our grad program and internships, and our goal to bring more women into senior roles across our organisation.”

Luckily, this trend is growing, and scholarships like this will continue to empower more and more women to enter STEM. As the digital industry continues to grow in Australia, it’s important to encourage a balanced and diverse workforce.

TechnologyOne’s founder, Adrian Di Marco, started the company with one goal in mind: to transform business and make life simple for higher education, healthcare, councils and government departments through a new generation of software.

“When we welcome people into the TechnologyOne team, we look for people who are passionate, creative and determined to deliver for their customers and community because the way to make good software is to employ the best people possible,” Mr Chung said.

“By providing young people with the tools they need to succeed in their studies, like through the Adrian Di Marco Women in Software Development scholarship, they can pick up these skills and qualities they will need to excel in their careers and help take the tech industry into the future. This is something that Adrian has always been passionate about instilling in the next generation, which is why we sponsored the scholarship in his name."

“We are very proud to be supporting young people throughout their higher education journey to help them reach their full potential and succeed in their goals,” said Peter Nikoletatos, TechnologyOne General Manager for Education and Adjunct Professor.