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Abstract:
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The Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology (CCWESTT) has embarked on a multi-year initiative to build bridges between organizations in Canada and strengthen our influence in government, industry, professional associations and post-secondary institutions, to increase women?s participation and leadership in these fields. The Women in SETT (Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology) Initiative has the goal of bringing a strong unified voice to institutional policy assessment and development through the establishment of a fully resourced national entity. (http://www.ccwestt.org/sett/sett.asp)
Phase I of the initiative, funded primarily by the Women?s Program of Status of Women Canada (SWC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), was completed in late 2004 with a final report describing the important outcomes of seven regional and national meetings. Those outcomes included the positive engagement and support of stakeholders, identification of key issues, and acknowledgement of CCWESTT?s leadership. Underscoring the extensive support for the initiative were generous financial contributions from government, industry, professional associations and academia.
In 2005, CCWESTT embarked on Phase II, again with major funding from SWC, NSERC and other organizations. We have produced a compelling business case for the increased participation of women in SETT sectors and for the establishment of a national entity; examined comparable centers in the US, Canada and internationally; expanded networks and partnerships; and identified some of the collaborators for the next phase of work. A model of a national entity with recommendations on its mission, objectives, activities, operational structure and governance will be presented to stakeholders and key government, industry and education leaders in a national forum in June 2006 in Calgary.
This paper will present the background of the Women in SETT Initiative, activities of Phase II, the business case, information on the proposed model, and next steps.
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