The Virtual Development Center (VDC) found innovative ways to engage and retain female computer science and engineering students. A unique partnership with ten prominent universities, leading high-tech companies and a number of community groups sought new and systematic ways to pull more women into computing and engineering fields through service learning.
More than 30 VDC Innovation Workshops involved more than 800 students, faculty, staff and community representatives and generated more than 1500 ideas and 120 university projects driven that fulfilled the needs of over 30 community groups. Annual VDC conferences allowed participants to come together to share outcomes of their projects and determine how processes could be improved for greater impact in the future.
Modeled after service learning courses, the VDC developed distinctive teaching and learning methods which specifically work to engage women’s perspectives and priorities in the generation of new technologies and applications. As a result, an overwhelming 89 percent of students indicated that participation in the VDC strengthened their decision to pursue a technical degree.
Objectives
The Virtual Development Center had several objectives:
- Develop a strong association between technology and its social relevance in the lives of VDC participants, including engineering and computer science students and community clients.
- Develop appropriate technology solutions through student projects.
- Identify and promote best practices for systemic change in academia and industry.
Publications
- Changing the World for Women and for Technology
- Virtual Development Center Five Year Report, 1999-2005
- Profiles of Change
- Virtual Development Center Case Studies