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• Sparking Confidence: Inside Western Engineering’s welding workshop for women

Sparking Confidence: Inside Western Engineering’s welding workshop for women

The women-only welding workshop helps to ensure students continue to gain access to industry-relevant training that complements their academic studies. (L-R) Katelyn Donaghy, Jess Brady, Hope Finlay and Stella Cobb with Cody Ruthman, project manager and instructor, University Machine Services. (Jacob Arts/Western Engineering) 

Building on the success of its women-only machine shop training, the Faculty of Engineering at Western University continues to expand hands-on learning opportunities for women through a new Welding Workshop for Women.

Developed in collaboration with Stephanie Tigert, acting director of operations and strategy and Angela Mawdsley, assistant professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering, the workshop was designed to give women at Western Engineering practical technical experience in a supportive environment—while helping prepare them for industry-ready careers.

“This came about as a request by Stephanie and Angela,” said Cody Ruthman, project manager at University Machine Services and instructor for the workshop. “They are both advocates for women in STEM and felt this would be a great opportunity. I fully agreed, and we offered it to the women who attended the Women’s Make It/Fix It night.”

The goal of the workshop is to provide students with hands-on manufacturing experience that complements their academic studies.

“We wanted to give students technical experience that will benefit them when entering the industry,” Ruthman explained. “What they learn through experiential learning really complements what they learn in the classroom. Plus, it’s really fun.”

The introductory TIG welding course – which is also offered co-ed – guides students through safety protocols, personal protective equipment and shop practices before moving on to electrode selection, power supply setup and welding techniques for various materials. Participants gain experience welding mild and high-carbon steels, stainless steel and aluminum, culminating in a final project and open discussion about personal welding applications.

For Hope Finlay, a second-year Mechanical Engineering student, the workshop offered both skill development and confidence-building.

“I had wanted to learn how to weld since my first year,” said Finlay. “A machining course was mentioned in my thermodynamics class and from there I checked out the other available courses and found welding.”

While she had previously taken a co-ed welding course, Finlay said the women-only environment made a noticeable difference.

“The women-only course made me significantly more comfortable,” she shared. “None of us had much experience, and we were all nervous, so we were able to support each other throughout. It also made me feel more comfortable admitting when I didn’t know something and making mistakes, because I felt I would be judged a lot less.”

She added that learning alongside other women created a sense of belonging in a space that can feel intimidating.

“We bonded through our shared experience of feeling anxiety around how trades usually have a bad reputation for how they treat women,” Finlay said. “The all-girls environment showed us that we were welcome and wanted in these spaces.”

Ruthman noted that while the learning environment itself remains consistent, students often experience a confidence shift once they begin working with the equipment.

“At first, some students seem very scared of the process,” he said. “But once they begin and realize it’s not that scary, they really start to have fun.”

For Finlay, a breakthrough moment came while learning to weld aluminum—one of the more challenging materials in the workshop.

“At first, I really struggled,” she recalled. “My welds kept falling apart and I couldn’t find a rhythm. Cody broke down the entire process and carefully explained how welding aluminum differs from steel and how to apply the skills I already had. After his demonstration, I tried again and finally created a solid weld. That was a really proud moment for me.”

Beyond technical skills, the workshop equips students with practical experience that strengthens their resumes and supports future career opportunities.

“Having hands-on manufacturing experience is a huge benefit to any engineering student,” Ruthman said. “It gives them firsthand experience with the challenges of manufacturing, which helps them understand what’s possible when designing. Being able to add hands-on experience to their resume is also incredibly valuable.”

Looking ahead, Ruthman shared that plans are already underway to expand experiential training opportunities across the faculty.

“There are many plans being developed to expand training options to support experiential learning,” he said. “Donations would be a vital asset, allowing us to further expand what we can offer in terms of equipment and educational content.”

For Finlay, the experience has reinforced her confidence and sense of belonging in engineering.

“This workshop showed me that I’m capable of learning these skills,” she said. “It made me feel supported, encouraged and more confident stepping into hands-on engineering spaces.”

As Western Engineering continues to invest in inclusive experiential learning, programs like the Welding Workshop for Women are helping remove barriers, build confidence, and prepare the next generation of engineers to thrive—both in the classroom and in industry.