Guiding Secondary Education Girls towards Green Jobs through Challenge-Based Learning

By implementing the GirlsGoGreen project, we aimed to empower secondary school girls with the skills and knowledge needed for future green jobs, while addressing the gender gap in STEM education. ...

By implementing the GirlsGoGreen project, we aimed to empower secondary school girls with the skills and knowledge needed for future green jobs, while addressing the gender gap in STEM education. The project sought to enhance girls' interest in STEM disciplines by integrating sustainability and circular economy concepts into education through Challenge-Based Learning (CBL). Our primary goal was to equip 60 secondary school girls with practical green and digital skills, making them more competitive in the evolving labor market. We also aimed to train 10 STEM teachers in innovative pedagogical methods, enabling them to inspire and mentor more students. Additionally, we worked to develop educational resources, including a digital toolkit, an open-source teacher training course, and career guidance materials, ensuring long-term impact. Beyond education, we strived to build a European network connecting schools, local communities, and businesses, fostering a collaborative approach to sustainability education. Through pilot programs and multiplier events, we promoted policy recommendations for integrating green skills into curricula, creating a lasting framework for empowering girls in STEM and sustainability careers.

In the GirlsGoGreen project, we implemented a series of targeted activities to empower secondary school girls with green skills and STEM knowledge. Our activities were structured around research, teacher training, student engagement and community outreach. We began with a research phase, analyzing best European practices for engaging girls in STEM and sustainability education. This resulted in the creation of a digital toolkit to support educators. Next, we developed and delivered an online teacher training course on Co-Creation Challenge-Based Learning (CCC_BL), equipping 10 secondary school STEM teachers with innovative methods to integrate sustainability into their teaching. For student engagement, we conducted a pilot program where 60 secondary school girls formed teams to explore emerging green jobs, solving real-world challenges in an online hackathon-style event. Additionally, we hosted multiplier events in Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, engaging educators, businesses, and policymakers to promote green career pathways. Throughout the project, we carried out dissemination activities, including workshops, social media campaigns and networking events, ensuring long-term impact and inspiring future generations of girls.

The GirlsGoGreen project successfully delivered several concrete outputs and impactful results, ensuring long-term benefits for secondary school girls, teachers, and the education sector. Key outputs included: 1. Digital toolkit showcasing best European practices for engaging girls in STEM and sustainability education. 2. An open-source online teacher training course on Co-Creation Challenge-Based Learning (CCC_BL), empowering 10 STEM teachers with innovative green skills pedagogy. 3. A Girls’ Green Jobs Guide providing structured career guidance on sustainability-focused careers. 4. Ан Educational Policy Guidelines with 1 GGG (Girls Go Green) repository of activities for Schools with min.10 activities 5. Three Multiplier Events (Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey) engaging educators, businesses, and policymakers in discussions on integrating green skills in education. The project also led to tangible results, including: 1. Increased STEM interest and sustainability awareness among 60 secondary school girls. 2. Enhanced teaching competencies in green skills education. 3. A European network of schools, educators and policymakers, fostering long-term collaboration on STEM and sustainability education.