With the successful organization and implementation of the Multiplier Event entitled “Empower Girls’ Creativity Through Use of Digital Technologies”, the DAISSy research group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) completed the activities of the “SparkDigiGirls: Empower Girls’ Creativity Through Use of Digital Technologies“ European project. The event took place on-site on July 12 2023, at the “Byzantino” Hotel in Patras, Greece.

The SparkDigiGirls aims at encouraging girls to explore digital technologies such as AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT (Internet of things) and come up with new and exciting ideas by utilizing their newly acquired digital knowledge to chart the waters of the male-dominated STEM industry with fresh, different, and creative viewpoints.

The event was addressed to teachers, vocational education and training providers, apprenticeship advisors, vocational training teachers, IT solutions providers, Government representatives, University representatives, students e.t.c..

The launching speech was delivered by Achilles Kameas, Professor of HOU and Director of DAISSy, who presented the activities of the Research Group and emphasized on its valuable projects and their impact on society. Then, Mr. Konstantinos Potsis, Project Manager of DAISSy, introduced the agenda of the event to the audience and briefly explained the aim of the SparkDigiGirls EU project.

Furthermore, Mrs Evgenia Pierri, Director of the Directorate of Secondary Education of Achaia (Prefecture at the Region of Western Greece-RWG), held the session entitled “Women’s participation in information and communication technologies (ICT) – The role of secondary education”, by elaborating on the gender gap of women’s participation rate in ICT and STEM professions, the role of the secondary education in closing this gap, and the measures already taken or planned by the Directorate, towards this direction.

The sessions continued by Pr. Fotis Lazarinis, Researcher of DAISSy, presenting the SparkDigiGirls project, its activities and deliverables, namely:  the “Twofold analysis of ways how innovative technologies may develop creativity of girls”, the “Unleash your creativITy with technology” online learning program, the “Digital Female Role Model Campaign” and the “Guidebook to empower youth workers as mentors to pursue girls’ creativity through usage of digital applications”. It is worth mentioning that twelve (12) youth workers/secondary education teachers and sixty five (65) girls were engaged in the project activities in Greece, who participated in the “Unleash your creativITy with technology” online learning program, and are school students at the Achaia (Prefecture at the RWG), the city of Agrinio (Prefecture of Etoloakarnania of the RWG) and the city of Mytilene (at the Lesvos Island of North Aegean). In addition, inspirational videos of women with a leadership role in the IT, created during the “Digital Female Role Model Campaign”, were presented.

A joyful part of the event was the following presentation from the group of teachers and students from the 6^th General Highschool of Patras, who won the educational trip to Ljubljana, Slovenia! This was the award of the evaluation process of their performance in the SparkDigiGirls online learning program. The winners shared their experiences and explained how their involvement in the project expanded their horizons.

Emphasis was put to the firm links of SparkDigiGirls with two other EU projects currently ongoing by DAISSy-HOU on STEM education i.e. SpicE: Special Education STEAM Academy and NEFELE: Neet prevention in Educational systems through positive Future vision Enhancing Learning and teacher Education, that were presented respectively,  by Mrs Natalia Spyropoulou and Mrs Vasiliki Takouli, Project Managers of DAISSy-HOU.

An interactive and interesting discussion with the audience followed the speeches, regarding suggestions on activities to motivate girls to take part in STEM-STEAM, just before the ceremony on commendations awarded to the schools and the teachers, involved in the “Unleash your creativITy with technology” learning program.

More precisely, the following schools obtained an award for participation in the SparkDigiGirls learning program: Vocational High School of Paralia Patras, 6^th General High School of Patras, General High School of Dafni Kalavryta, 5^th General High School of Agrinio, 2^nd Vocationa High School of Agrinio and Model Experimental High School of Mytilene.

The multiplier event ended in a pleasant atmosphere with the participants expressing positive remarks for the implementation of such projects and their willingness to be actively involved in initiatives of this kind, in the future.

The SparkDigiGirls is a two-year project, funded by the European framework ERASMUS+ and implemented by a consortium of six (5) partners representing six (4) European countries (Greece, Lithuania, Slovenia, Portugal), with the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU, being the Greek partner. The Research Group participates in all work packages of the SparkDigiGirls project and is responsible for the coordination of the development of the “Guidebook to empower youth workers as mentors to pursue girls’ creativity through usage of digital applications”.

For more information on the SparkDigiGirls  project, and other activities of DAISSy:

• Website: https://daissy.eu/,  http://www.digigirls.eu/
• Facebook: @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter: @daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup, @sparkdigigirls
• Email: info@daissy.eap.grontained therein.