Vienna (OTS) – Women are still severely underrepresented in technical professions. This is why the Ministry of Education encourages girls to get excited about the STEM area from the very beginning of their educational career. The MINT seal of approval is already awarded to elementary educational institutions for appropriate measures.
Girls’ day, too, which scores with online offers this year, aims to get girls excited about mathematics, science and technology.
A lot is also done in schools to get girls interested in STEM subjects. A lot of expertise is available at the technical schools. At higher technical institutes (HTL) there is a network of gender and diversity officers. These schools set numerous initiatives to get younger students interested in technical colleges. The numbers are developing positively.
The children’s universities offer children and young people between the ages of five and 18 an age-appropriate entry into the world of the university in order to encourage interest in science, research and education. Particular attention is paid to promoting girls’ interest in science and technology.
The IBOBB initiative guarantees gender-sensitive career advice and guidance for young people between the ages of 12 and 14 who are facing an important decision in their educational career.
In order to address the problem area even better, the Institute for Higher Studies (IHS) carries out an analysis of statistical data along the entire educational career on the subject of “Gender segregation MINT”.
At universities and colleges, the measures go beyond individual support programs for women. In order to remove structural barriers, corresponding projects and goals were anchored in the performance agreements with the universities and research institutions or in the technical college development and financing plan.
The previous EU gender equality policy is reflected very specifically in the new research framework program “Horizon Europe”. Public higher education and research institutions that apply for funding will in future be required to present including equality plans.
Education Minister Heinz Faßmann says: “The promotion of girls and women, especially in the MINT area, is very important to me. In addition, it is also a question of breaking down structural barriers in the education sector even beyond the special funding programs. The IHS expertise I have commissioned will help us to set the course. “
Inquiries & contact:
BM for education, science and research
Mag. Deborah Knob
Press officer
01 53120-5026
debora.knob@bmbwf.gv.at
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