SDG 5: Gender Equality

According to Engineers Canada, only 20% of newly licensed engineers in Canada self-identify as women.

As part of BCIT’s mission to build a diverse and inclusive future, we celebrated National Engineering Month and International Women’s Day by highlighting BCIT’s woman-identifying students, faculty, and alumnae in engineering. In this Q&A series, you’ll gain insight into their engineering journey, their hopes for the future, and why they chose BCIT. Check out the first installment of Ask a Woman in Engineering to hear them share the stories behind their decision to become an engineer.

Learn more about BCIT hands-on learning experience and explore the Engineering programs.

BCIT has the longest-running Women in Trades program in Canada. It is designed to provide skills training for unemployed or disadvantaged women and provide a support network for women in the trades. The program is coordinated by a Chief Instructor from the School of Construction and the Environment; this talented individual is a woman of Aboriginal descent and as a fully qualified tradesperson, she is able to draw on a range of experiences to help students in the program. The program started in 1978 and is fully sponsored by BCIT. Thirty-two women enroll in the program annually and obtain fulfilling careers in carpentry, welding, automotive, electrical or piping. Women are welcome to participate in a two-week Trades discovery program prior to enrolling.

Learn More About the trades programs

Explore a marine career working on tugboats, ferries or deep sea vessels. Career opportunities also include water-based ecotourism, commercial fishing, sport fishing, travel and other recreational marine guiding roles. This 17-week program includes the foundation skills and Transport Canada certification required to obtain entry-level employment as a deck hand. Women and Indigenous people are eligible for subsidized tuition.

Learn more about the Enhanced Bridge Watch Rating program

Dr. Mirela Gutica is Faculty member and Option Head in the School of Computing and Academic Studies. Her interests in computing technology include digital logic design, computer architecture, programming languages, to name a few. She is also involved in research in learning theories, education technologies, as well as enhancing students’ learning experiences and creating a learning community.

Part of the 41% of researchers at BCIT that are women, Dr. Gutica’s research focuses on reducing the gender gap in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experience. Specifically, her research aims to identify motivational and challenging factors that influence female students to pursue computer science post-secondary education. Dr. Gutica aims to propose strategies that could encourage more high-school girls to pursue an education in STEM-related fields, such as computer science.

Women only make up 30% of the world’s researchers and 28% of the STEM workforce. While there is an awareness that the gender gap exists in most STEM fields, it’s important to recognize and break the barriers that are limiting women from entering a career in STEM.

Check out the BCIT News article on Dr. Mirela Gutica’s research.

Related SDG:

The Respectful Workplaces course is a free online course for everyone:

• We strive for a world that enables all members of the community to work and learn in an environment free from bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
• BCIT’s goal is to ensure that yours is a workplace where everyone associated with the organization are valued and respected.
• We hope that this course will empower you as an advocate for good.

The course consists of six independent study modules that enables one to proceed through the material at their own pace.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course you will be able to:

1. Understand the importance of a respectful workplace.
2. Recognize discrimination, harassment, and bullying.
3. Support a culture of respect.
4. Know what to do if you witness or experience discrimination, harassment, or bullying.

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The Understanding Unconscious Bias course is a free online course for anyone wanting to understand unconscious bias and the impact of on society, individuals, and themselves.

The course consists of six independent study modules that enables one to proceed through the material at their own pace.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Describe unconscious bias
2. Explain why and how people develop unconscious bias
3. List common types of unconscious biases that impact decision making in the work and learning environment
4. Explain how to prevent or minimize the discriminatory impact of unconscious biases.

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Women in Computing

The Women in Computing (WIC) is a group of like-minded individuals who support equality in the Technology field. Their goal is to support female students to thrive in their academics while also forming strong connections with female professionals working in Vancouver’s Tech community. WIC is not exclusive to only female students – they welcome anyone who supports the club’s visions.

Young Women in Business

The Young Women in Business (YWIB) club at BCIT was founded with the purpose of connecting ambitious students across various schools that share the same belief of female empowerment in the professional workplace. YWiB is a progressively growing network across Greater Vancouver and has since grown nationally. It provides opportunities that facilitate growth for its members. Members have access to networking opportunities and meeting industry professionals that share their insight and experience through workshops and seminars.

More information on BCITSA Clubs

Diversity Circles provides an opportunity for parties to discuss how to move forward on the inclusion and equality of all including genders. Recognizing that more resources were needed to support and engage diverse groups in post-secondary education, the Diversity Circles project was founded in 2015. Diversity Circles supports staff, students, alumni, and the public with a series of panels, workshops, conversations, tools, and connections to support an effective model to engage with increasing diversity positively, sensitively, and strategically, by leveraging the power of community-based expertise, to drive responses to diversity and empower all participants in the diversity conversation. ASL interpreters are provided at every Diversity Circle event. The Diversity Circles team has delivered over 100 workshops, launched mentoring and networking programs, and shared their findings across Canada.

Read More about Diversity Circles at SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities

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In 2020, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT) announced the Advisory Committee of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council (DLC) which is an evolution of the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC). Kory Wilson, Executive Director, Indigenous Initiatives and Partnerships represents BCIT as a Vice-Chair of the DLC for 2020-21. The council holds programs and workshops that help to educate GVBOT members on these issues. It also offers resources to help businesses improve diversity and inclusion.

Read More at SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

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BCIT has developed resources to help students, faculty, staff and guests become Safety Wise. These include a mobile app and a video series.

Safer walk is a program where anyone can call to have campus security walk with them anywhere on campus and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (24/7). They will wait with you until your ride comes.

There are emergency telephones on campus so assistance can quickly be summoned. They are found in parking lots, walkways, elevators, and in-house telephones. BCIT Security Communications Centres are operational 24/7 to answer calls for assistance. Emergency telephones can be used to report emergencies, request a safer walk, request first-aid, report suspicious activity, and to request assistance (e.g. for car problems, lost, etc.).

Learn More about Safety on campus