Staff, students and industry partners came together at the Derry~Londonderry campus to mark International Women’s Day with an event celebrating women shaping the future of artificial intelligence and recognising the achievements of female students in computing.
The event, Shaping Futures: Women and AI Across Disciplines, was organised by the School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems in collaboration with the University Research Network. It brought together students, academics and industry partners to reflect on the theme GiveToGain, highlighting the importance of sharing knowledge, resources and support to help more women thrive in technology and research.
The programme opened with a talk from Dr Naomi Patterson, Lecturer in Human Resource Management, who explored the evolving relationship between people, technology and artificial intelligence, and the importance of ensuring diverse perspectives help shape future developments in AI.
This was followed by a panel discussion on the theme Challenges and opportunities for women in science and engineering. The panel featured Professor Michaela Black, Professor of Artificial Intelligence; Dr Bronac Flanagan, Lecturer in Computing; Dr Naomi Patterson; and Anuradha Panchapagesan, Product Manager at PwC.
Panellists discussed the importance of representation in STEM disciplines, the opportunities AI presents across sectors, and how stronger collaboration between academia and industry can help support the next generation of women entering technology careers.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of the Kainos Ulster University Awards for Women in Computing, supported by Kainos. The awards recognise outstanding female students studying computing and related disciplines and offer a generous bursary towards living costs, alongside mentoring and workplace opportunities for first-year women pursuing careers in technology.
This year, ten students received the awards in recognition of their achievements and potential in the field of computing.
Dr Deepika Nikam, from the School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems, said:
“Ulster University is pleased to celebrate and support the achievements of our students through the Kainos Women in Computing Scholarship. Initiatives like this play an important role in encouraging more women to pursue careers in technology, building confidence, fostering talent, and helping to shape a more diverse and innovative digital future.”
Deborah Sanderson, Early Careers Programme Lead at Kainos, added:
“Kainos is delighted to once again partner with Ulster University to champion women studying full-time Computing degrees. These awards shine a light on the talent, ambition and potential of women in tech – empowering more women to build long-term careers in the industry, strengthen their representation across the sector, and help create a more inclusive future for everyone.”
The event highlighted the value of collaboration, mentorship and knowledge-sharing in supporting more women to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology, and forms part of the University’s wider commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM.
