Project POWER - Girls in science

Girls in science

What is the purpose of Project POWER?

Raising awareness among students, teachers and parents about the importance of science, with a particular focus on encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers, as they are still under-represented in this field.

The elements of the programme included:

• developing competences related to engineering and science through innovative tools,
• strengthen business English communication,
• increase personal effectiveness
• students have the opportunity to observe and learn about different professions and career paths and gain personal experience.

The programme was encouraged to

• more girls to choose a career in science or engineering,
• a science competences of secondary school students, interpersonal skills and English language skills.
• enable teachers to develop professionally, to help secondary school students, especially girls, to choose a career through their own experiences.

What have we done during PROJECT POWER?

We worked initially with four and then two secondary schools on the projectwho have applied to participate in the programme

• Students in the programme participate in in-school and extra-curricular development activities to improve their scientific competences, interpersonal skills (assertive communication, presentation) and English language skills.
• Students get support to choose a career, gain insights into science-related careers through company visits and job shadowing.
• Teachers have the opportunity to renew their methodologies and exchange experiences.
• By involving parents in certain project elements are brought closer to school life and made aware of the importance of science and technology careers and how to support their daughters in choosing them.

What are the results?

• 1000 students and 60 teachers were involved in the programme and in some project elements
• 300 students took part in a careers class
• 200 students worked on a school project within the framework of the programme
• The intensive small-group science and IT development in the programme has made a major contribution to the development of the three schools' students' for outstanding competitive performances:
• Lakeside High School and Secondary School of Arts: national third place in an international mathematics competition
• Rudas Secondary School and College of Economics: place in junior engineering competition
• Comenius girls' team: international first place in forest engineering competition.
• Joint school workshop, where both students and teachers could get to know more about spectacular and interesting STEM-related activities: experiments and logic games
• The local media have given the programme a high profile and are happy to report on the events of the programme (10 articles in local written media, 1 television appearance)
• 10 video interviews with female researchers/engineers

Other important information:

• Supporting organisation: the Arconic Foundation, USA
• Project ID at the donor:222792
• Partners collaborating in the project:

Arconic Köfém Kft. Székesfehérvár

Tóparti High School and Secondary Art School, Székesfehérvár

Rudas Secondary School and College of Economics, Dunaújváros

• Duration start/end: 27 December 2016 - 27 December 2017
• Budget amount, currency: 36 000 $