1. Breaking barriers in SET for females with innovative VET Woman engineer Phd Halina Pacha-Gołębiowska At one time technologist at present teacher of professional car and mechanical objects in ZST in Leszno

2. What in my case decided on chosen studies Really deep-rooted family tradition As the several years' girl I already fixed all broken chains in bicycles, I knew how the welding and carrying on looked like, and what types of springs are in cars Do-it-yourself. In the childhood toys were mine rather from field "short DIY enthusiast" I liked sciences, particularly a physics, and at the technical vocational school technical mechanics and the structure design Desire for the practising a profession which is passion and pleasure, is giving development potentialities creative and scientific, as well as of getting many useful abilities

3. Barriers which appeared on the means of achieving my aims, whether I encountered the manifestation of the discrimination because of the sex (woman in the men's profession) At the technical vocational school at the beginning they didn't believe that I would manage, they were asking "girl what are you doing here?" but later I was a representative of the school in the many Olympics and technical competitions, and on go-kartings I went better than the majority of friends During studies due to the fact of being a girl also it was not easy - I had been more frequently asked than my male friends, I always had to prove more: that I can, that I manage. Thanks to such situation I graduated from university on the third place from my year? At that time I had already accomplished various courses and trappings for e.g. welder and crane operator. Beggining of my carrier was a constant struggle fo prooving my place in men’s world. But beiing stuborn, and fith in myselfe and already good training of mechanic engenieer allowed me to become succesfull and to gain the possision of main technologist in 2 years. Additionally at that time I was in charge of technologists team.

4. Czy ktoś mnie wspierał w wyborze ścieżki kariery? Czy byłam jedyna na wybranym kierunku kształcenia? Jak wyglądały początki kariery zawodowej, poszukiwania pracy? My great support were my parents. Mainly my father – also a mechanic engenieer, he was my mentor in chosing the path of my carrier. In vocational school I was the only girl in the class. In whole school – 6 girls, each in different class. Next on the first year to three hundred admitted students three girls were a student, on my speciality I was one. After the master's exam at once I got the proposal to start a PHD course, but unexpected affairs caused another way of carrier. Of job-hunt which would negotiate my development and raising qualifications lasted the almost half year in spite of for 40 sent applications. In response very often I could hear: oh well, in spite of the very good education is a woman for you. And if will children appear? But in the end a young woman of the engineer was employed in very big company.

5. How did partners react for the cooperation with the woman in the men's profession? Did I encounter the manifestation of the discrimination? Whether I would take the same selection of an occupation again? If one more time I was faced with the choice of direction of my education certainly I would take all action in order to get the same profession Courage in taking difficult decisions in production processes and technical-ness consolidated the respect and the kindliness to my person Beginnings of my job - ignoring or skipping my point of wiev in important issues

6. Girls - my advises or the selection of an occupation of the future Passion, interests Family’s support Teachers’ support Due choice of the secondary school, best technical vocational school Exact or similar to technical school Investing in one's development by taking additional professional experiences Studies Be enterprising Prepare good cv and protfolio Be patient, creative and toug. Interesting job