TU Dublin and ESB launch inaugural ESB TrailblazHER Scholarship to support the next generation of women engineers
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Last month, at ESB Headquarters, TU Dublin and ESB launched the inaugural ESB TrailblazHER Scholarship to help remove barriers for women pursuing engineering careers through financial assistance, industry mentoring, professional networking and career-development opportunities.
The inaugural scholarship recipient, Ericah Ncube, is a second-year Mechatronics Engineering student at TU Dublin. Inspired by her experiences growing up in Zimbabwe, she chose engineering to develop systems that can make everyday life easier. She now balances her studies with work experience at an electrical-panel construction company and a daily commute of up to four hours. The scholarship will help ease the barriers she faces as she completes her degree.
Valued at €9,000 over three years, the scholarship provides more than financial assistance. Alongside an annual bursary, the recipient will gain access to mentoring, professional networks and career development opportunities through ESB, helping to build the skills and connections needed to succeed in industry.
The inaugural scholarship recipient, Ericah Ncube, reflected on the impact the award will have on her future during the ceremony:
"A dream is all I have. Thanks to ESB and TrailblazHER™, I’ve been given the fuel I need to keep moving forward because sometimes, a dream is all you need."
Orla Gallagher, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for ESB, commented:
“The Energy for Generations Fund is proud to celebrate and support the ESB TrailblazHER Scholar Ericah Ncube, reflecting our commitment to creating opportunities for talented students who may face barriers in pursuing their education. We are delighted to work in partnership with TU Dublin to help encourage greater participation of women in engineering and STEM. By investing in emerging talent today, we are helping to build a more diverse, inclusive, and innovative workforce for the future.”
Speaking at the event, Dr Aoife Blowick, Senior Manager of TrailblazHER™ at TU Dublin, said:
"Access to opportunity remains one of the biggest barriers to building a sustainable and diverse STEM workforce in Ireland. At TrailblazHER™, we know financial support can help a student stay in university, but access to industry, mentors and professional networks can change the course of their career. Through partnerships like this with our Patron Partner ESB, we're investing not only in talented students, but in the future they have the potential to shape.”
The ESB TrailblazHER Scholarship forms part of TrailblazHER™ at TU Dublin, a national initiative advancing opportunities for women and girls in STEM and other underrepresented fields. Since launching in 2024, TrailblazHER™ has reached more than 2,500 participants nationwide and secured over €1 million in external funding. This investment supports a growing portfolio of school and community programmes, scholarships, bursaries and industry partnerships designed to address barriers at key stages of women’s educational and professional development.