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Felicity fills gender gap in computing degree
Sixteen-year-old Felicity Cunningham has a headstart in her Bachelor of Software Engineering at the University of the Sunshine Coast – in more ways than one.
The first-year student, who finished Year 12 last year with an OP2, is the only female enrolled in the degree at the Sippy Downs campus this year.
“I don’t mind at all,” she said. “It’s actually helpful because I’ll stand out from the crowd with employers in the future. They’re looking for more females in the computer industry.”
Felicity and more than 30 male counterparts this year enrolled in the degree program which explores the software development process from design to implementation, including how to build systems in multiple programming languages.
USC Faculty of Business Teaching and Research Fellow Wayne Clutterbuck was delighted by Felicity’s enthusiasm.
“We want to encourage more women because they make very good software engineers,” Mr Clutterbuck said. “In my eight years experience with students, females sometimes can have a more logical mind and can focus on the big picture, not just the technology.”
Felicity said her transition from Suncoast Christian College to USC had been smooth because she had participated in USC’s Headstart program which enables Year 11 and 12 students to do accredited university courses.
A Headstart information evening for current Year 11 and 12 students will be held at the University on Wednesday 18 March from 6.30pm. To register, email <schools@usc.edu.au> or call Tegan McFarland at USC on 5459 4795.
Felicity, who was one of 165 students from 30 high schools in last year’s Headstart program, said she enjoyed the computing-focused university subjects which extended her learning while she was at school.
“I enjoyed my time at USC through Headstart and wanted to come back,” she said. “It’s a great campus, my lecturer was helpful, and the students are friendly. Plus, it has good facilities that they keep adding to and it’s close to home.”
Mr Clutterbuck said he had tailored an enrolment pattern for Felicity to take into account her previous university subjects.
“This is the third year we’ve had the Bachelor of Software Engineering at USC,” he said. “It has a more analytical focus and is more maths-based. It’s about engineering an IT solution for companies and institutions rather than just writing a program.”
Mr Clutterbuck said USC was currently the only university that taught business skills to software engineering students.
“Those skills are highly sought-after because employers want more effective communication between their technical and business people,” he said.
— Julie Gatehouse