STREAM IT, STREAMING GIRLS AND WOMEN INTO STEM EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND RESEARCH
ST(R)E(A)M IT aims to initiate change about the persisting gender inequalities in STEM education, research, and innovation to contribute to the implementation of the ‘The European Manifesto for gender-inclusive STE(A)M education and careers’.
Description
ST(R)E(A)M IT project supports the European Commission’s vision of a Europe, “where women and men, girls and boys, in all their diversity, are equal – where they are free to pursue their chosen path in life, where they have equal opportunities to thrive, and where they can equally participate in and lead our European society.” This vision is more than relevant nowadays when significant results are achieved in gender equality (GE) education, but still, there are persisting gender gaps, particularly in STEM fields.
ST(R)E(A)M IT addresses gender barriers and challenges by developing innovative gender- and diversity-inclusive tools for educating young people with a particular focus on young girls and by mobilizing actors of different sectors of STEM education, and the R&I ecosystem to create sustainable networks for providing ongoing support for the STEM education providers. ST(R)E(A)M IT seeks to introduce solutions that can be widely used by different kinds of stakeholders during and beyond the scope of the project in the interest of implementing actions suggested by ‘The European Manifesto for gender-inclusive STE(A)M education and careers.
STREAM IT aims to overcome the barriers and challenges faced by underrepresented groups, with a specific focus on girls/young women in STEM by:
- Developing innovative, gender and diversity-inclusive tools to educate young people, particularly young girls, and prepare them for innovation-driven careers.
- Mobilising stakeholders from various sectors of STEM education and the R&I ecosystem to create sustainable networks that provide ongoing support to STEM education providers.
Our project objectives are as follows:
- Empowering underrepresented groups in STEM, with a special focus on girls (aged 14-18).
- Promoting gender-inclusive career paths and increasing the talent pipeline in STEM fields, along with enhancing the attractiveness of STEM careers.
- Piloting and fostering the integration of STEAM approaches in STEM education by synthesizing previous knowledge and networks.
- Supporting STEM education providers by sharing knowledge and building capacity to eliminate gender-based barriers, including gender stereotypes in STEM education.
Basic information
Coordinator
Partners
- HÉTFA Research Institute (HU) | Coordinator
- F6S (IE)
- Steinbeis 2I (DE)
- Regional Agency for Entrepreneurship and Innovations (BG)
- Babes Bolyai University (RO)
- Sunrise Valley Technology Park (LT)
- CESIE (IT)
- Nők a Tudományban Egyesület (HU)
- Technology Park Varaždin (HR)
- HIŠA - House of Experiments (SI)
- Bureau of Research, Innovations and Technologies (UA)
- Mihajlo Pupin Institute (SRB)
- ADDSEN (SK)
- Universidad de Burgos (ES)
- Foundation for Management and Industrial Research Foundation Skopje (MKD)
- ReadLab Brussels
- Research Innovation and Development Lab (GR)
- EIT Food (PL)
- Women in Tech Gothenburg (SE)
- STEM Island (ISL)
- Association of Business Women in Serbia (RS)
Programme
Horizon Europe (programme-horizon-europe)
Project Acronym
Target groups
college students, education authorities, general public, industry, parents, policy makers, primary school students, researchers, secondary school students, teachers, trainee teachers, under school-age kids, university students, university lecturers, vocational school students
Topic
Gender in STEM, Education, Other
Start year
2024
End year
2026
Contact person
Katalin Oborni, obornikatalin@hetfa.hu
STREAM IT conducts empirical cross-country research to explore the underrepresentation of women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Applied Art and Mathematics) education, innovation, and research, aiming to build tools and forge meaningful forms of cooperation that can improve women’s access to STEAM fields. The objective of the research is to collect empirical data regarding the existing opportunities and obstacles young women face when embarking on STEAM studies and activities
Research reports delivered in the project:
- Research report on previous and running initiatives and European projects on STEAM education and gender equality (LINK)
- Best practices collection on STEAM approaches and tools (LINK)
- Research Report on obstacles and supports for gender equality and inclusiveness in STEM education, R&I (will be published by November 2024)
Papers
ST(R)E(A)M IT is dedicated to enhancing STEM education, using innovative STEAM approaches and teaching methods to engage students of all ages. These efforts aim to upskill educators, facilitate knowledge sharing, and build community support. Key initiatives involve:
- Developing toolkits.
- Creating a virtual makerspace and establishing national hubs for STEM educators that are accessible to all interested parties.
- Organising policy webinars.
- Running online awareness-raising campaigns targeting the main target groups of the project.
A series of activities are planned to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed toolkits:
- Workshop series oriented towards STEM education to support girls.
- Hands-on activities at science centres and museums.
- Mentoring Programme empowering young talents studying at HEIs.
Teachers Materials:
STREAM IT aims to develop innovative gender- and diversity-inclusive toolkits and test them through a series of activities in partners’ countries. The tools will support the skills development and learning opportunities for all genders but with particular attention to girls (aged 14-18).
The toolkits will be concluded after organising numerous programmes, events, workshops, and other initiatives throughout Europe aimed at attracting girls and women into STEAM. They represent a thorough resource designed to empower organisations in their efforts to promote gender diversity in STEAM education.
Through a careful selection process, the toolkits will consolidate a wealth of experiences, insights, and materials amassed from these diverse activities. One of the key features is their flexibility, offering users the option to tailor their engagement based on various criteria. For instance, users will be able to sort resources based on format, choosing between online or in-person delivery methods to suit their specific circumstances and audience preferences.
Moreover, the toolkits will categorise resources according to duration, allowing users to select activities ranging from brief, intensive workshops of up to several hours to more extended, immersive experiences spanning a full day or even a several-month programme. This flexibility ensures that organisations can select initiatives that align with their available time and resources while accommodating the varying needs and preferences of participants.
Additionally, each resource within the toolkits will be accompanied by clear indicators of its expected learning outcomes, enabling users to align their objectives with the desired educational outcomes for participants. Lastly, the toolkits will be designed to cater to a diverse range of organisers, including schools, science centres, and non-formal education providers, sharing valuable resources and guidance to empower these stakeholders in their efforts to promote STEAM education among girls.
By offering a collection of resources that are adaptable, diverse, and have a gender-sensitive methodology, aligned with the needs of different users, the toolkits will serve as a valuable asset for organisations seeking to inspire and empower the next generation of female leaders and professionals in STEAM.