SheSTEMs,She STEMs The Future
Description
General Objective:
To promote gender equality in STEM education by increasing the participation&interest of girls aged 12-15 in science,technology,engineering&mathematics,providing them with role models and creating an inclusive learning environment that supports their personal&academic growth.
SMART Objectives:
1. Increase Girls' Interest &Participation in interactive STEM workshops&hands-on activities across partners,with at least 80% reporting a positive change in their interest in STEM subjects.( at least 100 girls)
2. Provide Access to Female Role Models in STEM by establishing a virtual mentorship program,connecting at least 20 female professionals from various STEM fields with participating students,with at least 70% of mentees expressing increased motivation to pursue STEM careers.
3. Develop Teachers' Capacity to Promote Gender-Inclusive STEM Education by delivering a teacher training sessions on gender-inclusive teaching practices with at least 90% of participating teachers reporting increased confidence in applying these practices in their classrooms.
4. Create Sustainable Resources for STEM Education containing at least 40 gender-inclusive teaching resources with at least 400 downloads from educators across partner countries.
5. Raise Awareness About Gender Equality in STEM by conducting a min 4 awareness campaigns (one per partner),reaching at least 1,000 students,teachers&parents through social media, webinars&school events,with at least 75% of participants acknowledging increased awareness of gender equality in STEM.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Basic information
Coordinator
Gemeinschaftsschule Althengstett, https://www.gms-althengstett.de/
Partners
- Aydın Ticaret Borsası Bilim ve Sanat Merkezi, Türkiye – http://aydintbbilsem.meb.k12.tr/
- Agrupamento de Escolas Terras do Ave, Portugal – www.aeterrasave.net
- AISR, Ireland – www.aisr.ie
Programme
Erasmus+ (programme-erasmus-plus)
Project Acronym
Target groups
secondary school students, teachers
Topic
Applied sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Ecology, Engineering, Gender in STEM, Information technology, Maths, Technology, Education
Start year
2025
End year
2027
Contact person
Zehra Ateş, zehrates@yahoo.com
The motivation for the project "She STEMs The Future" arises from the persistent gender gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields across Europe and beyond. Despite progress in recent years, women remain significantly underrepresented in STEM careers.
Specifically;
Germany: Women make up only 16.8% of STEM graduates in engineering and 36.4% in natural sciences, mathematics, and statistics (Eurostat, 2021). In 2020, only 29.3% of researchers in Germany were women (UNESCO, 2021).
Portugal: Women represent 31.5% of STEM graduates in engineering and 47.5% in natural sciences, mathematics, and statistics (Eurostat, 2021). Despite higher representation in STEM education, women hold only 28% of STEM jobs in Portugal (Pordata, 2021).
Türkiye: Women account for 37.5% of STEM graduates in engineering and 45.5% in natural sciences, mathematics, and statistics (Eurostat, 2021). However, only 17.5% of researchers in Türkiye are women (UNESCO, 2021).
Ireland: Women represent 22.7% of STEM graduates in engineering and 43.7% in natural sciences, mathematics, and statistics (Eurostat, 2021). In 2020, only 25% of STEM professionals in Ireland were women (CSO Ireland, 2021).
Research from the EC highlights that early exposure to STEM education and the presence of female role models are key factors in encouraging girls to pursue STEM-related studies&careers. Reports such as "A Multi-Level Approach to the Gender Gap in STEM Education" & "Addressing the Gender Gap in STEM Education Across Educational Levels" emphasize that societal attitudes, educational practices, and the role of educators significantly shape girls' perceptions of their potential in STEM fields. Girls often lose interest in STEM subjects during adolescence due to societal stereotypes, lack of role models, and gender biases in educational settings.
Papers
A1. Project Management&Implementation&Dissemination
A2. Kick-Off Meeting
A3. Gender-Inclusive Teaching Practices And Strategies To Engage Girls In STEM Subjects Teacher Training
A4. STEM Explorers – Hands-On Learning for Girls
A5. Awareness Campaign and Workshop:Breaking Stereotypes in STEM
Tangible Results:
- Logo&Website
- Mentorship Program
- Teacher Training Documentation
- STEM Resource Repository
- Awareness Campaigns
- Famous Female STEM Role Model info or story cards
- eTwinning Project