Since a pilot project was announced last semester, tech programs at Algonquin have seen an increase in the number of women interested in them.
Program coordinators have attributed the increase in interest with the program to the increased publicity surrounding the announcement.
“Intake has about 46 students depending on how you do the numbers and I think we have six women; that’s higher than usual,” said Frank Bowick, coordinator for the electrical engineering technician program.
In the past women accounted for 10 per cent or less of new intakes.
“I’m actually a contact point for when students see a link for ‘We Saved You a Seat’ on the internet or on our website. It actually gets directed to me and I’m getting at least 10 emails per day from interested women,” said Kathryn Reilander, coordinator for the electrical engineering technology program.
The project will reserve 30 per cent of seats in the mechanical engineering technician,electrical mechanical engineering technician, electro-mechanical engineering technician and computer systems technician programs for women.
The pilot project has not been free of criticism according to Reilander, which she says is unwarranted
“It is going to create a more competitive program for men, a better program for men and women and I think it’s improving our program. You know it’s not diluting it, it’s improving our program. Saying ‘there’s a cut-off — now you have to work to get in here,’
“We need that diversity. It allows a different perspective and point of view. It allows us to be challenging the conventional systems of the engineering world.”