The primary objective of the project was to promote inclusion and diversity in STEM education by addressing gender disparities and fostering greater interest in STEM careers. The project also aligned with the broader goal of supporting digital transformation in education by providing innovative tools for students, teachers, and career guidance professionals. Specifically, the project aimed to create a set of resources to support STEM career awareness and engagement. These included digital stories showcasing diverse STEM professionals, interactive workshops, and a centralised online platform to host these tools. By presenting STEM as exciting, relevant, and accessible, the initiative sought to challenge stereotypes and inspire more girls to consider STEM education and careers. The ultimate goal was to demonstrate that STEM is not only achievable but also offers significant personal and professional opportunities. To maximise impact, the project also focused on broad dissemination across multiple channels - including social media, schools, stakeholder networks, and Erasmus+ platforms - to ensure the resources reached a wide and diverse audience.
This project was initiated to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, particularly in engineering and technology. In 2023, women made up 41% of scientists and engineers in the EU, with even lower representation in manufacturing roles (22.4%). In certain tech fields, such as DevOps and cloud computing, female participation is as low as 8%. These figures highlight the need to promote gender diversity and encourage more young women to pursue STEM careers. Additionally, there is limited awareness of the breadth of STEM career opportunities beyond traditional roles, contributing to a lack of engagement among female students. (https://www.eureporter.co/education/science/2025/02/12/7-7-million-female-scientists-and-engineers-in-the-eu/, https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/sustainable-inclusive-growth/charts/an-uneven-distribution-of-women-in-tech). On a personal note, as someone who discovered programming later in life, I have first-hand experience on the importance of early exposure to STEM fields. The project aimed to challenge these barriers by broadening perceptions of STEM careers and addressing misconceptions about who STEM is for.