The ‘Engenheiras Por Um Dia’ initiative has been recognised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as a noteworthy example of good practice in promoting gender equality in access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This recognition is part of the OECD report titled ‘Gender Differences in Education, Skills and STEM Careers in Latin America and the Caribbean – Insights from PISA and PIAAC’, which examines gender disparities in the educational and professional choices of young people in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Coordinated by the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) and INCoDe.2030, the ‘Engenheiras Por Um Dia’ has the support of Técnico and is put into practice by the Portuguese Association for Diversity and Inclusion (APPDI). Currently, it involves more than 200 national organisations.
The initiative includes various activities such as practical workshops, sessions with role models, mentoring, and visits to companies and higher education institutions. Técnico contributes to these activities through the involvement of professors, researchers, and students in initiatives like the campaigns held on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in February and the International Girls in ICT Day in April.
The OECD report stresses the urgent need to address persistent inequalities in career choices among young people, noting that only 14% of girls in Latin America and the Caribbean consider pursuing STEM careers, compared to 26% of boys. The organisation also highlights the importance of programmes like ‘Engenheiras Por Um Dia’ in challenging the stereotypes that have historically discouraged women from entering these fields and fostering a shift in societal attitudes.
Since 2017, the programme has engaged more than 21,500 primary and secondary school students. Its mission is ‘to create a fairer, more inclusive, and innovative society where all career choices are accessible to everyone, regardless of gender’, as stated in the press release.
