The first webinar in the STREAM IT series is now behind us! Organised by EIT Food CLC North-East, the event took place on March 26, 2025, bringing together a group of 10 Polish participants, mostly representing higher education institutions. They were interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) education and the existing barriers for girls and women in this sector. The meeting provided inspiring insights and concrete recommendations for implementing changes in STEAM education.
Special Guests of the Webinar
During the webinar, we had the pleasure of hosting two experienced experts in gender equality and STEAM education:
Katalin Oborni – Senior Project Manager at HÉTFA Group and the main coordinator of the STREAM IT project, who presented the project’s objectives and assumptions. She also shared observations and conclusions on effective STEAM education. Her presentation was delivered in English.
Małgorzata Druciarek – Gender & Diversity Senior Manager at EIT Food, who presented qualitative research findings conducted as part of the STREAM IT program and outlined concrete recommendations for implementing changes to support girls and women in STEAM.
Key Takeaways from the Webinar
In her presentation, Katalin Oborni emphasised that a shift in teaching methods will only begin when educators acknowledge and accept the fact that barriers for girls and women in STEAM truly exist. Moreover, effective education leading to change should include learning opportunities for both girls and boys, tailored to the specific needs of each group.
Małgorzata Druciarek highlighted that structural reform in educational and academic environments has the strongest potential to drive change in the representation of women in STEAM. Institutional support should be formalised and implemented at the highest level to systematically break down cultural stereotypes.
Additional recommendations:
- Gender-inclusive STEAM education – Supporting girls from an early age (preschool, primary school) in pursuing education and careers in STEM fields is crucial. Initiatives like STREAM IT can help eliminate barriers and equip teachers with supportive materials.
- The role of teachers in STEAM is key – Engaged, well-trained, and gender-aware teachers are essential. Teacher training should focus on implementing gender-sensitive teaching methods—educators should be able to see gender as an aspect of learning, not just a topic.
- STEAM is the future of education – Interdisciplinarity and the integration of science with practice prepare students for the challenges of an evolving job market. Creative teaching methods make STEAM more engaging (more fun, less theory—especially for younger learners). Additionally, a practical approach for educators should include gender-related topics and methodologies (e.g., working with data that highlight gender inequalities, participatory methods) and curriculum revisions.
- Support networks and role models in STEAM inspire – A key element of STEAM development is a strong network of women supporting each other—creating a culture of collaboration rather than competition and facilitating the exchange of experiences between teachers, experts, and young learners. Role models can also strongly inspire young girls and provide them with real-life examples of potential career paths in STEAM.
Why is it worth joining the next webinars?
Along with the first webinar, we are officially opening the National Inspiration Hub STEAM Poland as part of the STREAM IT project, which engages teachers and stakeholders interested in supporting gender equality in STEAM education through the promotion of innovative education in this area.
The National Inspiration Hub STEAM Poland offers a series of six free webinars, which are a key part of the Hub’s activities. By participating in the webinars, the Hub enables sharing of specialist knowledge, experiences and good practices in STEAM education, the establishment of new local and international contacts, access to valuable educational resources, and invitations to various local and international events.
During the subsequent webinars, we will continue the STEAM-related topics, focusing on good practices, innovations, and support opportunities for educators and girls. It will also be an opportunity to meet and talk to wonderful women, also from outside Poland, who are successfully pursuing their careers in STEAM fields.
If you want to learn how to effectively implement STEAM in your institution, or if you are looking for inspiration and information about development programs for girls and women, be sure to join the National Inspiration Hub STEAM Poland and become part of a community actively supporting STEAM education in Poland.
Polish version of blog post Here