Girls Go STEM

Girls Go STEM is a European education initiative designed to equip secondary school students, particularly girls aged 14–19, with the digital, entrepreneurial and STEM skills needed to navigate and shape a rapidly-evolving labour market. It is a Cross-KIC initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), led by EIT RawMaterials, and implemented in collaboration with other EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities. 

Background and context 

The initiative responds to a critical challenge across Europe: while demand for digital and green skills continues to grow, women remain significantly underrepresented in STEM fields. This gap is not driven by lack of ability, but by systemic barriers such as limited exposure to real-world STEM applications, lack of visible role models, and persistent gender stereotypes that influence educational and career choices. 

Girls Go STEM addresses this challenge by combining digital skills education with real-life, interdisciplinary learning. Through an online platform, students engage with topics such as artificial intelligence, sustainability and emerging technologies, applying their knowledge to practical challenges in areas like food systems, fashion, mobility and space. This approach strengthens not only digital competences, but also systems thinking, problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills. 

About this initiative 

A core strength of the initiative lies in its integrated model. In parallel to student learning, teachers are upskilled in digital topics and inclusive pedagogical approaches, enabling them to better support girls in STEM pathways. This creates a multiplier effect, as teachers continue to apply these practices in their classrooms. To sustain engagement and deepen impact, the programme extends beyond the classroom through hackathons, mentoring, and ambassador programmes. These provide opportunities for collaboration, peer learning and interaction with role models, strengthening girls’ confidence, self-efficacy and sense of belonging in STEM.

By combining education, teacher training and community-building, Girls Go STEM contributes to increased interest in STEM and supports more girls to enter, persist in and progress along STEM education and career pathways, contributing to a more inclusive and competitive European workforce.

Girls Go STEM aims to equip young people with digital and STEM competencies while increasing girls’ interest 
and participation in STEM pathways. Key objectives include: delivering high-quality digital and STEM learning 
modules, upskilling teachers in inclusive and future-oriented pedagogies, and fostering engagement through 
hackathons, mentoring and ambassador programmes. 

Why is this a good practice? 

Girls Go STEM has reached over 100,000 students trained, including more than 78,000 girls aged 14-19, across 37 European countries, supported by over 4,000 educators and 2,000+ schools and institutions.
Impact data shows that 82% of participants improved their digital and entrepreneurial skills, 84% increased their confidence in applying these skills in real-world contexts, and 80% reported increased interest in STEM-related fields. 

Milestones so far include scaling implementation across European countries, expanding multilingual access to learning content and strengthening collaboration with schools and industry partners. The initiative also aims to improve measurable outcomes such as students’ confidence, interest in STEM, and ability to apply digital skills to real-world challenges. For the next three years, Girls Go STEM aims at training 100,000 girls, contributing to the overall Union of Skills ambition to train 1 million female talents by the end of 2028.