An investment by Alberta’s government means science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields will employ more women as our economy grows.
To ensure that more women have the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education in STEM programs, new funding is being provided to bursary programs at Bow Valley College in Calgary and NorQuest College and Yellowhead Tribal College, both in Edmonton.
Many women face financial and personal challenges in their pursuit of post-secondary education and this funding investment will address those challenges. It will also help women gain the knowledge and skills needed for employment in STEM-related fields, helping to increase women’s representation in these sectors.
Alberta’s government is investing $1 million in these bursary programs. Both Bow Valley College and NorQuest College will receive funding of $400,000 while Yellowhead Tribal College will receive $200,000. The bursaries will cover a portion of tuition and fees and help recipients pay for services they need to succeed in their studies, which could include school supplies, technology, laptops and accessories, child care and transportation.
This funding is part of the government’s commitment to support women’s economic recovery as part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan. This follows the recent investment of $1.9 million toward a two-year Research and Innovation Grant to support skills development training for women’s success in the IT sector.
“On International Women’s Day, we celebrate everything women have done to build Alberta. This day is also a call to find new ways to ensure women can succeed at school, at work and at life. These bursaries will help more women pursue fulfilling and in-demand careers that will help build Alberta’s future. Through this investment, Alberta’s government is expanding the impact of the government’s Women in STEM and Persons Case Scholarships, which are supporting a record number of students this year with close to a million dollars in funding.”
Bow Valley College (BVC)
- BVC is Alberta’s largest community college.
- BVC will provide learner bursaries and supports to women pursuing BVC’s School of Technology diploma and post-diploma programs, which include cybersecurity, cloud computing, information technology systems, data management and analytics, software development and gaming development.
- Students at the Calgary campus and regional campuses in Airdrie, Banff, Cochrane, High River, Okotoks and Strathmore will be eligible for the bursary.
NorQuest College
- NorQuest College is the province’s second-largest community college.
- NorQuest College will provide learner bursaries and supports to women pursuing diplomas in energy management, environmental protection technician and machine learning analyst.
Yellowhead Tribal College (YTC)
- YTC is one of five First Nations colleges in Alberta devoted to providing accredited programs in a flexible, supportive academic environment that is nurtured by Indigenous cultures and traditions.
- YTC will provide bursaries and services to women in STEM-related programs, including Indigenous environmental stewardship and reclamation certificate/diploma/advanced diploma, renewable energy installation assistant, coursework toward a bachelor of science in Indigenous environmental management, and the vertical farming citation/certificate.
Quick facts
- STEM professions have proven to be economically resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic, but women are under-represented in STEM fields.
- Women make up half of Alberta’s population but only represent about one-third of enrolments and graduates in STEM programs and only about one-quarter of employees in STEM fields.
- In the technology sector alone, women in Alberta account for only 25 per cent of workers while making up 45 per cent of the workforce overall.
- Post-secondary education has been shown to be essential in today’s technology-based global economy and there is a direct correlation between education and economic success of communities.
- Alberta has led the nation for five consecutive months with its employment rate for women. In January 2022, that employment rate reached 60.7 per cent.
- 60 per cent of minimum wage earners in Alberta are women.
- Almost 90 per cent of women aged 15 and older in Alberta are employed in the services-producing sector, such as retail and hospitality services.
