TechnologyOne STEM scholarship helps Swinburne student level-up in the gaming industry

Swinburne student Ruby Hall has been awarded this year’s Adrian Di Marco Women in Software Development scholarship.  

Drawn to the creativity of design and structure of programming and a deep passion for games development, Ruby has been coding since she was nine years old and started her double degree in Bachelor of Games and Interactivity/Bachelor of Computer Science at Swinburne this year.  

Her ideal career path sits within games programming, using advanced software skills to help create the next generation of Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) and Visual Effects (VFX).   

“I’ve always loved playing and developing video games, so going to university to study it as a career path has long been my dream. As both a female player and developer, I think it’s so important that the people who create media are representative of its audiences. It’s key to achieving inclusivity and ensuring real-world experiences aren’t overlooked.”     

Over the last few years, the global gaming industry has exploded and now generates more revenue than the music and movie industries combined. When it comes to gender representation, just under half of all players are female, yet last year Australian women made up just 26 per cent of all employees across the gaming industry locally.   

TechnologyOne scholarships are designed to support young women who want to develop their skills in the tech industry. As one of TechnologyOne’s ten scholarships, the Adrian Di Marco Women in Software Development scholarship gives students the support they need to focus on their studies while alleviating the financial burden.   

TechnologyOne’s CEO, Ed Chung expressed his pride in supporting students like Ruby who want to challenge the status quo in a male dominated industry.  

“Despite so much progress, Australia’s vast STEM ecosystem is still represented by less than three in ten women. Through our scholarship, grad program and internships we hope to make a small difference that can lead to real change. As a parent to two girls myself, I am proud to be able to support students like Ruby to help them develop their professional skills and guide them on a path towards a very bright future.”   

In addition to the financial support, Ruby will gain a place in TechnologyOne’s intern program.   

“I’m looking forward to experiencing what it’s like to work in the software development industry and identify other skills not explicitly taught through higher education that will help me stand out,” she said.