Tech.Ship project - Slovakia

The Slovak 'Tech.Ship' project organises summer internships in the area of STEM for girls in high school together with the non-profit organisation Female Algorithm in Slovakia. The program combines a range of learning methods to tackle the national gender gap head on: shadowing, mentoring, and hands-on, practical exercises in the area of information technology (IT), supervised by experts from leading technology companies in the country. 

About this initiative

The Slovak Tech.Ship project introduces a unique and creative approach to address an identified gap: the shortage of female experts in key areas like STEM and ICT. Essentially, the program aims to inspire girls by giving them a chance to spend some time and gather first-hand insights of the world in an IT company. It can serve as a trampoline for high school girls, who want to grow and work in the IT field or go into university studies: they can take part in company projects, get to talk to employees and meet other interns, and much more. 

The program's innovative tandem model allows participants to work in pairs or small groups, fostering teamwork, mutual support, and knowledge sharing, ultimately boosting their confidence and interest in the IT field. In 2024, 8 high school students completed their first year of IT internships. 

Why is this a good practice? 

The Slovak program is customisable and scalable: each internship is tailored to suit the participant's needs, skills, interests, and goals. Participants received continuous support from mentors from both the collaborating companies and experts from the Female Algorithm NGO. Collaboration with will-established IT companies such as Deutsche Telekom IT Solutions Slovakia, Games Farm, and Resonate made it possible to conduct the program in professional work environments and attest to its sustainability. 

Replicability: taking the program to other contexts, regions, and EU Member States. 

The program's mentorship methodology is easily replicable in other contexts, regions, and countries. It is based on practical tasks and workshops, which saw interns engage in real-world tasks such as game testing, project management using Agile and Scrum methodologies, and design with Figma. At the end of the internship, each participant presents their highlights and outcomes, shares their experience, and receives personalised recommendation letter to guide them towards suitable academic and career opportunities and future paths. 

This model of summer internships is highly replicable and adaptable to different regions and industries. Its structure, including tandem internships, mentoring support, and tailored tasks, can be implemented in other contexts with minor adjustments. Last year, this project was organised in eastern part of Slovakia in Košice, and plans for next year will expand the activity also to Bratislava. The success of its pilot program demonstrates its scalability and relevance in bridging the the digital skills gap on a national scale. 

Effectiveness

Interns' feedback points to the success and effectiveness of the program: 7 out of 8 participants reported increased motivation to pursue IT careers after the internship. Program participants gained both technical skills (software testing, UI/UX design) and soft skills (teamwork, communication). On the side of companies, employers equally reported high satisfaction with the interns' performance and expressed willingness to continue with the program. Some students have received offers to collaborate further with the companies their interned for. 

Sustainability

The program has demonstrated long-term viability through:

• Established Partnerships: strong ties with partner companies ensure ongoing collaboration.
• Participant Motivation: interns expressed clear intentions to continue their education and careers in IT.
• Community Engagement: Continuous involvement from Female Algorithm ensures sustained support for participants beyond the internship period.
• Scalability: Lessons learned from the pilot phase provide a foundation for expanding the program to more participants and additional companies.