The principal objective of FeSTEM project  -Female Empowerment in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Higher Education- (Proj. Numb. 2019-1-CY1-KA203-058407) is to promote an innovative method and pedagogy that will allow HE students to use traditional and computationally-rich media to create meaningful, shareable exhibits that will act as mentoring models for encouraging girls and women to remain active in STEM. The novelty of our approach is reflected in the activities that will make use of traditional and computationally-rich media through which we envisage to expose HE students to successful female role models in STEM and encourage the development of networking opportunities for women to establish a peer support system. The making of meaningful, shareable exhibits is based on the premise that by having students engage as scientists in a creative, hands-on, and passionate endeavor allows them to spark their motivation to remain active in STEM- a motivation that is often extinguished by extrinsic and goals and expectations of education and workplace.

FeSTEM will deploy through the establishment of STEM MAKER teams in all partner countries which will consist of HE academics working in STEM-related departments and motivated STEM students (male and female) who will work at the project in all its different phases. STEM MAKER teams will be involved in the piloting and evaluation of the project outputs (tools, exhibits, activities and workshops), and thereafter they will apply what they have learned in a wider-scale through workshops and events. Ultimately, the project will build an active network of women in STEM (both junior and senior) that will act as a mentoring hub for encouraging girls and women to remain active n STEM.

The results of the project are expected to be of value for HE teachers, students, trainers, managers, entrepreneurs, technicians and researchers. More specifically, in the outputs of the project are expected to benefit those who are interested in raising gender-sensitive awareness in HE and enrich HE STEM education with a gender-sensitive approach.