RESEARCH AND ARTS

In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, STE(A)M education and training practices have gained attention in Higher Education (HE). Given the world is in its fourth industrial revolution, the demand for STEM experts and professionals is expected to grow in the future. Women’s involvement in STEM studies and careers remains remarkably low in most of the Western Balkans despite the fact that 56% of enrolled students in tertiary education were female over the period 2015-18 in the region according to the RCC’s study. Only North Macedonia and Serbia have higher shares of female students in natural sciences, mathematics, and statistics subjects, outperforming all Western Balkan economies. The Global Gender Gap Report 2021 shows that STEM attainment in Montenegro was 15.20% among women compared to 30.01% for men while Bosnia and Herzegovina performed somewhat better with 16.12% attainment for women and 28.43% for men. Men outnumber women by almost double the margin. Intersectional vulnerability is omnipresent with Roma women and girls in education (with a rate of enrolment of 1% and completion of 0,1%) and employment.

In order to address the current (STEM-related) gender and intersectional imbalances in the Western Balkans HE and career pursuit, the GEAR project proposes a framework for change of the present situation through:

1. Co-designed development and implementation of gender equality plans at WB HEIs
2. Strengthening women’s and girls’ participation in STE(A)M studies and careers
3. Fostering support and participation of women and girls with fewer opportunities in HE
4. Implementation of national and local gender aspects in strategic developmental frameworks, e.g. specialization strategies, inclusion, and gender strategies
5. Catering for the needs of the most vulnerable (female) students, i.e. Roma.