COLUMBUS, Ohio — Intel's investment in Ohio also comes with a promise to invest in bringing more women into the tech workforce, and it's starting at the college level.
What You Need To Know
- According to Intel’s research, 25% of the U.S. Intel's workforce are women, and the company is trying to double that by 2030
- Columbus State Community College is one of many institutions trying to bring more women into the tech workforce
- Assistant professor Chris Dennis said the college has also been marketing more toward women to help close the gender gap
The company’s own research shows 25% of the U.S. Intel’s workforce are women, and the company is trying to double that by 2030.
When you’re studying mechanical engineering, working with your hands is key. That’s one of Maryam Rababah’s strong suits.
She’s one of the few women taking the Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology Program at Columbus State Community College, and it’s not stopping her from doing what she loves.
“I’m part of such a big change, but I don’t really see it like that,” Rababah explained. “I see it as me just doing my job because, at the end of the day, I’m going through with becoming an engineer and hopefully becoming a biomedical engineer to make a difference.”
Assistant professor of engineering technologies Chris Dennis said growing the female workforce is essential.
“It’s not the factory that it was back in the 1950s. Women should be working,” he said. “If we want to be the best manufacturers in the world, we need women working in our plants.”
The big push for expansion right now is Intel.
“With some of the new business coming into central Ohio, like Intel and the battery plant, we prepare them to be techs in these plants,” Dennis explained.
The college’s curriculum covers a lot.
Dennis explained the three courses Columbus State has added.
“One is on semiconductor manufacturing and the basics. The other one is vacuum technology. Intel is going to use a lot of vacuum technology, and the third one I mentioned is just more of a generalized manufacturing course that teaches them about measurements and hand tools,” he said. “Then, the basics of manufacturing.”
It opens doors for women, just as much as men, whether they’re pursuing a career in Intel or somewhere else.
“I want to work for a company that makes the machining and hospitals,” Rababah said. “I want to either do that or like help design like the machinery that is like life support and stuff like that.”
Dennis hopes to see a change in the near future.
“The thing is, I would feel nothing better than to walk into a class next semester and it to be 50% female, 50% male. Nothing would make me happier,” he said.
Dennis said the college has also been marketing more toward women to help close the gender gap.