Imagine a world of OPPORTUNITY!

Explore IT is an interactive conference for grade nine girls to explore the exciting world of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Leading edge institutions and corporations work together to increase girls’ awareness of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and related career options that will inspire them and help shape their potential futures. Using state of the art technology at Mount Royal University, SAIT Polytechnic, and the University of Calgary, the girls participate in hands-on sessions in areas such as multimedia, networking, cinema, television, Java programming, robotics, geomatics, and web page design.

With one main goal, Explore IT was created to increase young women’s awareness of the opportunities available in Information and Communications Technology as they begin to make their career decisions and plan for the future. Through interactive workshops, information sharing and keynote speakers, grade nine girls from Calgary and the surrounding area are given a sneak peak into the tantalizing world of high tech.

Grade nine was chosen as the target age, as it is a critical career decision-making year for girls who are about to enter high school. The Conference experience helps reinforce the importance of selecting science and math precisely at the time when girls are making curriculum decisions that will impact their future career choices and options.

The past nine Explore IT conferences have aided over 3200 girls in enhancing their awareness of the rewarding opportunities available in ICT. After attending Explore IT there is an increased optimism that girls may follow a path to a career in ICT. In 2008, over 70% of participants in the Conference indicated that they would consider pursuing such a career.

WHY EXPLORE IT AND WHY GIRLS?

The demand for individuals with an ICT background is increasing throughout the world. In Alberta, it is projected that there will be labour shortages in all, or virtually all ICT occupations.1 As we struggle to educate the workforce to fill these career demands, it is essential that the Calgary community invests in Alberta’s youth in order to nurture a highly skilled workforce that will give our province a competitive advantage in world markets.

Explore IT focuses on introducing young women to career possibilities in ICT. Women are underrepresented in the ICT field and while females represent 56.4% of university enrollment and 52.5% of college enrollment, only 23.4% of workers in ICT occupations were female in 2006.2 Along with engineering and technology programs, ICT programs experience very low female enrollment. In 2005 (the most recent year for which there is published data), women accounted for only 14.4% of undergraduate degrees in computer engineering and 15.1% in software engineering.3

While there are a number of programs to encourage women to enter engineering, there are few such programs in ICT, the Explore IT Conference being one of them. It is the hope of the Explore IT committee that girls will become not only aware of, but excited about the vast opportunities available to them in ICT and other related fields in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

• Excite girls about the fun and creative opportunities within the ICT sector.
• Inspire and motivate girls to engage in Information and Communication Technologies.
• Encourage original self-expression and enthusiasm through technology.
• Motivate and inspire girls through guest speakers and mentor discussions.
• Stimulate participants about the demand for ICT professionals.
• Interest girls in ICT career areas that have traditionally had a low representation of female students.
• Encourage girls to keep their future options open by taking math and science courses throughout high school.

1 Information and Communications Technology Council, Outlook for Human Resources in the Information and Communications Technology Labour Market, 2008 to 2015.

2 Information and Communications Technology Council, Outlook for Human Resources in the Information and Communications Technology Labour Market, 2008 to 2015.

3 Engineers Canada, Canadian Engineers for Tomorrow: Trends in Engineering Enrolment and Degrees Awarded, 2001 to 2005.