UBC and SAP partner to foster girls’ love of technology

UBC and international software developer SAP Canada have joined forces to deliver technology workshops for Grade 7 girls at the company’s Vancouver offices.

The GIRLsmarts program, organized by UBC’s Computer Science department, has been active for a decade, but this is the first year it has partnered with industry to hold workshops outside of UBC’s Vancouver campus. The move allows participants to experience a real world technology environment.

“We know this type of programming works,” says Anne Condon, head of the department of Computer Science at UBC. “This partnership is a tremendous way to grow GIRLSmarts and hopefully help realize more of Canada’s untapped scientific potential.”

It’s also the first time UBC has held a Grade 7 workshop - previously only Grade 6 workshops have been offered.

More than 100 SAP and UBC volunteers worked together to assemble the February 15 inaugural Grade 7 workshop, helping 64 girls from across the GVRD develop their own computer programs and explore digital technologies.