GEM

Around half of Europe’s population is female, yet only 15% work in tech sectors and even less, 2,4% in ICT related fields. Only around 20% of the females are entrepreneurs. The untapped source of female technology, innovation and entrepreneurial potential leaves Europe with a huge and growing gender and skills gap in these sectors. Education certainly is the most important lever to enable and encourage girls to pursue studies and careers linked to STEM, particularly information and communication technology (ICT), and entrepreneurship.

Higher education institutions from 11 European countries will organize summer camps for girls, piloting various learning activities, which specifically support the development of a diverse range of STEM related and personal skills. Skills that enable girls to contribute to Europe’s digital innovation processes. We induce encouragement through raising the girls’ interest and confidence. Therefore, we put a particular focus on challenging stereotypes, highlighting inspirational role models and offering participating girls a possibility to enjoy themselves in the context of STEM and enjoy STEM.

Another side of the coin is to enable society to encourage and support girls in pursuing STEM and ICT carriers. Therefore, a long-term European network connecting actors from various STEM education, digital and entrepreneurial spheres will be established. Members of the network will run diverse awareness-raising activities among society to address impending issues, to demonstrate the need and ways to support girls and to inform girls about their options.

Our consortium consists of 11 higher education institutions. Together with collaboration partners from business, policy and education providers in each country, the consortium is drawing from an unbeatable mixture of STEM education expertise, STEM/ICT subject knowledge and transnational project experience.

• University of Education Freiburg, Germany
• University of Nicosia, Cyprus
• Charles University, Czech Republic
• University of Jaen, Spain
• National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
• Vilnius University, Lithuania
• University of Malta, Malta
• Utrecht University, Netherlands
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
• Jönköping University, Sweden
• Constantine the Philosopher University, Slovakia

Name: Empower Girls to Embrace their Digital and Entrepreneurial Potential (GEM)

Type of Action/Programme: Pilot Project & Preparation Action Grant

Name of the call: Girls4STEM in Europe

Co-Funding: 346 450 €uro, European Commission

Coordinator: International Centre for STEM Education (ICSE), http://icse.eu/

Project duration: 2020 – 2021

We will be offering two rounds of GEM project Summer Camps in 11 different European countries.

By May 2021 you will find information on 11 Summer Camps taking place in summer 2021. You will be able to look at the learning plans and find information on how to become a participant of these one of a kind Summer Camps. Another round of camps will take place in year 2022, more information will be added by May 2022.

These 11 countries will each be hosting a camp:

• Germany
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Spain
• Greece
• Lithuania
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Sweden
• Slovakia

Here you will find a detailed action plan of the network by the end of the year 2020.

If you are a representative of a school, a higher education institution, a company or policy making, you are welcome to join the GEM Network. Being a part of this network, you will be able to encourage, inspire and support girls on their journey towards STEM and ICT professions through meaningful actions. Gain an honorary award for supporting the girls and let society know that you stand for equal opportunities for girls in STEM! If you are interested, please get in touch with our network coordinator Sona Ceretkova.

Here you, as a higher education instiution or school, will find detailed guidelines on organizing STEM/ICT summer camps for girls  by the end of the project.