The WOW-ME project (wow-me.eu) achieved the following objectives, fulfilling Erasmus+ objectives: 1. Sharing innovative approaches for career guidance and training through 4 thematic handbooks (digital skills & AI, narrative & employer personas, HR career coaches, and design thinking), combined into the 200+ page WOW-ME Handbook (tinyurl.com/f5unnaa4), available in 6 program languages, including 23 learning activities and 7 complementary activities, accessible via the wow-me.eu/results and icarus.education/wow-me/. 2. Creating an online toolkit to support transferability, enabling scalable and accessible adult education opportunities while strengthening digital readiness and lifelong learning pathways. 3. Updating partners’ training offers, with all 4 partner organizations integrating WOW-ME methods into their programs, improving capacity to support disadvantaged women and promote equal opportunities (Chapter 5: tinyurl.com/WOWMEEvaluation). 4. Testing the methodology through 4 LTTAs (tinyurl.com/Knowledge-Exchange-Report) and 18 target group trainings (TGTs) with 289 participants (71.7% women), with evaluation results confirming relevance for inclusive, digitally oriented up-skilling pathways (tinyurl.com/WOWMEEvaluation).
The WOW-ME project was created to support gender equality and promote more balanced participation of women, men, and non-binary individuals in the labor market. Despite progress, structural inequalities persist. In 2024, only 10.4% of Fortune 500 CEOs were women (tinyurl.com/3xdk4awa), reflecting lower participation in highly paid leadership positions among women. In line with European values of equality, diversity, and inclusion, WOW-ME contributes to fairer career development pathways and supports lifelong learning opportunities that enable individuals of all genders, especially those facing barriers, to realize their professional potential. WOW-ME addresses challenges faced by individuals, particularly women, returning to the labor market after longer leave of absence, career breaks, or reorientation. Such transitions often create uncertainty about how to re-establish one’s position in a rapidly changing labor market. The project responds to the need for inclusive and tailored learning opportunities that support individuals in identifying their strengths, values, and career directions beyond purely transactional job requirements.