Celebrating Women in Digital Education: DigiEduHack and the Future of Innovation
As International Women's Day approaches on March 8, it is essential to recognise women's pivotal role in technological innovation and digital education. Despite notable progress, gender disparities persist in STEM fields, particularly in emerging technologies. By highlighting these challenges and showcasing initiatives like DigiEduHack, we can inspire more women to lead and innovate in the digital space.
State of play
Despite comprising 51% of the EU population, women are underrepresented in STEM fields. Recent data reveals that women constitute only 20% of ICT graduates and hold just 17% of tech sector jobs. Moreover, women represent a mere 24% of self-employed professionals in technical professions, such as science, engineering, or ICT. This disparity is even more pronounced in emerging technologies. Globally, women occupy only 12% of AI researchers and 6% of professional software developer roles.
Enhancing women's participation in technology is not only a matter of equality but also vital for driving innovation and ensuring diverse perspectives shape our digital future. Research consistently shows that diverse teams perform better, fostering creativity and problem-solving. When more women enter tech fields, they contribute to designing inclusive digital tools, AI models, and learning platforms that reflect the needs of all users. By actively encouraging women to pursue careers in digital education and technology, we empower the next generation of leaders and changemakers.
Several projects led by women in tech are already shaping the future of digital education and innovation:
- Girls Who Code - A global nonprofit dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology by teaching young women coding skills.
- Girls Go STEM - empowers the next generation by providing free digital education, fostering sustainability awareness, and promoting equal opportunities. In 2024, the GGC program reached remarkable milestones. Over 21,000 girls successfully completed courses, and the program expanded to 35 countries and offered 18 specialised modules in 24 languages.
- Women in AI - a nonprofit organisation dedicated to fostering inclusivity in artificial intelligence and ensuring AI benefits society as a whole. As a community-driven initiative, WAI empowers women and minorities to become experts, innovators, and leaders in AI and data science through education, research, events, and thought leadership.
How DigiEduHack is Helping to Change This
DigiEduHack is dedicated to breaking down barriers and fostering inclusivity in digital education. As part of the European Commission’s Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027, it provides a global platform where educators, innovators, and tech enthusiasts collaborate to solve pressing challenges in digital learning. In 2024, the initiative achieved remarkable gender representation:
- 48% of participants were women.
- 51% of hosts were women, surpassing gender parity.
Beyond representation, DigiEduHack drives real change by offering hands-on problem-solving experiences. During the event at Talent Point – Babelsberg, participants developed innovative solutions to improve educational access. The three winning teams explored how digital tools—such as portals, the metaverse, and Bluetooth navigation—could better connect educational locations and integrate existing learning opportunities.
These experiences do more than build technical expertise; they empower participants to take an active role in shaping the future of education technology. By fostering an environment where women thrive in digital education, DigiEduHack is paving the way for a more balanced, innovative, and equitable tech landscape.
To all participants, mentors, and supporters: continue pushing boundaries, breaking barriers, and shaping the future of digital education. Together, we are building a more inclusive world!
