SHEskilled - A holistic upskilling initiative for immigrant women

The project SHEskilled was initiated to address two aspects: Firstly, it tackles the prevailing gender inequality in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, where women are still underrepresented and do not have enough opportunities to establish themselves in this field. The targeted promotion of women in this project supports the creation of a more balanced and diverse workforce in the ICT sector. Furthermore, the project not only addressed gender inequality, but also aimed to create a more inclusive environment by targeting women with a migrant background. It is well known that these women not only face socio-economic difficulties, but also face discrimination when seeking employment. Factors such as gender, migration background and possibly religion can exacerbate these problems. Therefore, the project places great emphasis on giving these women the opportunity to expand their knowledge and pursue better paid and more fulfilling careers, especially in the ICT sector.

The main objective of implementing the SHEskilled project was to set up a comprehensive qualification program that includes training, job coaching and motivational support. This initiative was aimed at people who find themselves in difficult life situations, especially those who are looking to (re)enter the workforce and improve their overall quality of life. The project focused on developing a structured training program specifically tailored to women with a basic affinity for IT. By improving their knowledge and skills, the project aimed to empower these women to become competitive in the labor market and actively contribute to the digital transformation. In addition, SHEskilled aimed to address the skills shortage in the ICT sector while creating shared learning opportunities for the participating organizations.

The implementation of the activities in the project followed the outlined application. This included project management and coordination, i.e. measures such as coordinating all project activities and communication, providing guidelines, meeting project deadlines, managing administrative tasks, allocating budget funds and organizing regular project meetings. In addition, interviews and information events were held to find suitable participants for the planned pilot training. The selection was based on a questionnaire and interaction with the candidates. In the next step, the job coaching workshop and the pilot training were developed and tailored to the needs of the participants. The training sessions were held over a two-week period and feedback was collected. At the end of the project, a digital conference was held to present the project and its activities and to give the participating women and trainers the opportunity to share their experiences. During the duration of the project, newsletters were distributed and the project and its trainings were promoted.

The SHEskilled project has not only produced important outputs such as the feedback questionnaire, training materials and newsletters, but has also successfully empowered migrant women by giving them confidence and hope and providing a viable pathway for a career change into the sought-after field of IT. The project not only facilitated the development of concrete skills, but also helped to instill a sense of confidence and optimism in the participants. Furthermore, the project played a vital role in raising awareness of the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields. By highlighting this issue, SHEskilled contributed to a broader discussion about gender equality and diversity in the professional world. In addition, the project has made progress in creating inclusive environments specifically tailored to the particular challenges of migrant women, recognizing and taking into account the intersectionality of gender and migration status.