News and Events

Computer Club Bridges Gender Gap

5 April 2007

Local school girls from Bournemouth are learning more about computers, thanks to a campus-based after-school club.

CC4G – Computer Clubs for Girls – at BU is part of a national initiative partnered by the e-Skills Council to encourage girls to take a more active interest in computing and IT.

Melanie Coles and Suzy Cutts - with other colleagues in BU’s School of Design, Engineering and Computing - are co-ordinating the club, which is free of charge to participants.

They hope that early exposure to computing for the 10 to 14 year old girls will help bridge the gender gap.

“It’s been our experience, over a period of time, that fewer women are showing an interest in computing courses,” said Melanie.

“Through CC4G, we’re planning to change that by showing that computers aren’t boring and are definitely for girls.

“The benefit to BU is that we build stronger links with schools in the local area, and have an opportunity to learn what will attract girls to computing degree courses in future years,” she continued.

“The girls will already be familiar with BU by the time they come to choosing a degree course.”

Girls from five schools in the Bournemouth area have participated in the first phase of CC4G locally, including:

St Marks’ Church of England Aided Primary School
Talbot House Preparatory School
Malmesbury Park Primary School
Christ The King Catholic Primary School
Stourfield Junior School

Since they joined CC4G in January, the girls have created fanzines on their favourite topics, and created their own web content.

CC4G, nationally, produces the materials and provide other support with a view to schools running their own clubs.

Participants say they’ve enjoyed the club, especially the opportunity to learn new things and meet new people.

“I like working with computers and I might want to work with them later on,” said one pupil from Christ the King.

Anyone interested in learning more about CC4G @ BU or participating themselves should contact Suzy Cutts on (01202) 965627 or email scutts@bournemouth.ac.uk.