Future Women
The proportion of women among engineering students and engineering professionals is low in Finland and other European countries. The Future Women project promotes digital equality for female higher education students, especially in STEM fields where advanced digital skills are needed.
Duration of the project
The project implementation period is from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024.
Materials and methods
The project involves eight organizations from six different countries (Finland, Bulgaria, Portugal, Poland, Greece, and Turkey). One of the main activities of the project is the implementation of an open online course for women interested in STEM fields, aimed at increasing their awareness of technology, and creating new job opportunities in the digital economy and the skills required in these fields. In addition, pilot training for career counselors will be conducted in each partner country in order to improve their ability to guide female students in digitalized job markets. All aspects of the project will be implemented collaboratively in each partner country.
Workplace collaboration is an important part of the project, therefore employment partners will be recruited to provide feedback on the project’s activities and to support their implementation.
Role of the Oulu University of Applied Sciences in the project
The responsibility of the Oulu University of Applied Sciences in the project, specifically in vocational teacher education, is to create an open online course for the project’s target group. The goal of this course is to support women’s career opportunities in STEM fields.
Oulu University of Applied Sciences promotes gender equality in the workplace
The university of applied sciences has been a partner in several projects related to equal opportunities in the workplace. EQUAL CAREER PATHS FOR WOMEN – NOW! -project (2020–2022) created a permanent culture in higher education and the workplace that allows for discussions on structural inequality and problem-solving. Another project related to the same theme is You Can! Girls and Technology (2018–2022). This project aimed to increase knowledge and positive attitudes towards technology and technology-related fields among girls. The project helped to reinforce girls’ confidence in their skills and enthusiasm for pursuing studies in the technology field.
Partners and funder
The following organizations are participating in the project:
- Coordinator: Chimikotechnologitchen i Metalurgitchen Universitet (Bulgaria)
- Mindshift Talent Advisory Ida (Portugal)
- Fondatsiya Na Biznesa Za Obrazovani (Bulgaria)
- Foundation Maker’s Place Private Company (Greece)
- Bahcesehir Universitesi Foundation (Turkey)
- Danmar Computers (Poland)
- Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
- Viva Femina (Poland)
The project is funded by Erasmus+.
Contacts at Oulu University of Applied Sciences
Minna Pesonen (minna.pesonen@oamk.fi), a senior lecturer, Professional Teacher Education
Tiina Rusanen (tiina.rusanen@oamk.fi), senior lecturer, RDI, Leadership and Well-being
Hanna Spets (hanna.spets@oamkf.fi), project expert, RDI, Business Development
Kati Mäenpää (kati.maenpaa@oamk.fi), senior lecturer and guidance counsellor, Professional Teacher Education