NEWS
Northforge Innovations, Wind River and Fulbright Canada Team to Launch Computer Science STEM Program for Youth
This initiative supports the overarching goals of Navdeep Singh Bains, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, to help Canadian businesses grow, innovate, and export by creating high quality jobs and improving the quality and impact of programs that support innovation, scientific research, and entrepreneurship. At the same time, it specifically aims to support community development in the greater Ottawa area.
“There’s an incredible need to fill the pipeline of future science and technology graduates, and I’ve seen firsthand the challenges Canada faces with its limited resource pool of technology graduates,” said Brenda Pastorek, president and chief operating officer of Northforge Innovations. “Our program is designed to encourage young people to pursue studies in the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines early enough to take the perquisite classes before graduating from high school.”
“This is an exciting new initiative which focuses our attention on STEM issues, and addresses, in a very practical way, the need to introduce STEM skills at an early age,” says Dr. Michael Hawes, CEO of the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the United States of America (aka Fulbright Canada).
“This STEM program will bring problem-solving and engineering-focused thinking to students and educators at these Ottawa schools,” said Jim Douglas, president of Wind River. “Wind River is proud to be a part of this valuable endeavor that will unlock opportunities for the next generation of technology leaders.”
In this pilot program, launched in August, the Northforge/Wind River/Fulbright initiative will fund the training of teachers for two pilot schools – Notre Dame Catholic High School and St. John Catholic High School in Eastern Ontario – in curriculum which has been specifically designed to connect students with the technology industry. The curriculum features, “Exploring Computer Science” for eighth-grade teachers and “Computational Thinking & Creative Problem Solving” for ninth-grade teachers.
In addition, Northforge and Wind River will provide volunteer engineers and technology professionals to work with students in practical applications and introduce them to the opportunities and career benefits of computer science. Fulbright Canada, a leader in post-secondary educational programming, will administer the program.
About Northforge Innovations
Northforge Innovations is an expert software consulting and development company focused on advancing the speed, security, and intelligence of the communications infrastructure. We help customers bring innovation and quality to their network infrastructure and network security products and services. For more information, visit www.gonorthforge.com.
About Fulbright Canada
Fulbright Canada, the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the United States of America, is a bi-national, treaty-based, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization with a mandate to identify the best and brightest minds in both countries and engage them in residential academic exchange. Fulbright Canada is firmly committed to community development, to diversity, and to the development of mutual understanding. For more information, visit www.fulbright.ca.
About Wind River
Wind River, an Intel company, is a world leader in delivering software for the Internet of Things. The company has been pioneering computing inside embedded devices since 1981, and its technology is found in more than 2 billion products. Wind River offers the industry's most comprehensive embedded software portfolio, supported by world-class global professional services, support, and a broad partner ecosystem. Wind River delivers the technology and expertise that enables the innovation and deployment of safe, secure, and reliable intelligent systems. To learn more, visit Wind River at www.windriver.com.
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Contact Information
Jessica Miller
Global Corporate Communications