About the project

 

STREAM 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.’ The envisioned aim of the project is achieved by empowering underrepresented groups in STEM, promoting gender-inclusive career paths and supporting STEM education providers through knowledge sharing, and capacity building to remove gender-based barriers in STEM.

ST(R)E(A)M IT addresses the barriers and challenges faced by underrepresented groups in STEM 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.

Main activities in the project

RESEARCH

The consortium conducts a meta-analysis and qualitative research to 1) synthesise knowledge and results produced by previous projects and researches on GE issues in STEM education and 2) further explore the institutional level barriers girls/women face in STEM fields, as well as institutions’ roles in supporting girls to be oriented towards tertiary STEM education

DEVELOPING GENDER AND DIVERSITY INCLUSIVE TOOLS FOR HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

STREAM IT develops innovative gender- and diversity-inclusive toolkits and test them through a series of activities:

  • Worksop series for supporting girls to orient towards STEM
  • Hands-on activities at science centres and museums
  • Mentoring Programme empowering young talents studying et HEIs

The tools will support the skills-development and learning opportunities for all genders but with a particular attention on girls (aged 14-18).

ESTABLISHING COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS

STREAM IT wants to raise awareness on GE issues in STEM, innovative STEAM approaches and teaching methods attracting students of all ages to STEM, and trough of it to foster the upskilling, knowledge exchange, peer-to-peer learning and community building of STEM education providers (teachers, organisational, institutions, incubators, technology and science centres, museums, etc.) who have a key role in making STEM related career path attractive. To achieve these aims the project will develop Gender and diversity inclusive non-formal teaching and training tools, and establish networking on national, the National Inspiration Hubs for STEM educators, and in international level, The Virtual Makerspace for STEAM approaches. The Virtual Makerspace will function as a European level open educational and networking platform of the national Inspiration Hubs but open to other stakeholders beyond the project.

CONTRIBUTING TO WIDER EU OBJECTIVES AND ‘THE EUROPEAN MANIFESTO FOR GENDER-INCLUSIVE STE(A)M EDUCATION AND CAREERS’

STREAM IT wants to contribute to wider EU policy objectives by supporting the development and implementation of the ‘The European Manifesto for gender-inclusive STE(A)M education and careers.’

 

The consortium organises policy dialogue webinars at least 6 times during the lifetime of the project on policy issues relevant for increasing GE in STEM education, R&I, and for contributing into the development and implementation of the ‘Manifesto.’ Webinars will also good occasions for collecting input for the Project’s Roadmap and making synergies with previous initiatives. This ongoing web-based dialogue will be ended by a hybrid Final Conference in Brussels (2026).