WINNOVATORS
The main goal of WINNOVATORS is to co-develop and implement innovative teaching and learning approaches to concrete policies for capacity building in the digital, entrepreneurial, STEM/STEAM innovation and sustainability fields. From this, young women from rural areas, as well as students in higher education could deeply benefit!
The project focuses on empowering young women in higher education institutions through:
- Skills Promotion: digital, entrepreneurial, STEM/STEAM, and sustainability skills;
- Teaching Innovations: new methods involving students and rural women as learners;
- Teamwork Capacity-Building: Cross-cultural teamwork skill development;
- Participant Skills Enhancement: gamified e-training for interactive learning;
- Community Building: WINNOVATOR community via social media for collaboration;
- Policy Impact: international policy seminar for gender-sensitive education guidelines.
Real life examples:
The WINNOVATORS platform offers online courses designed for young women under 35 in marginalized communities, aiming to empower potential or beginner entrepreneurs. In Serbia, 15 teams, each composed of 2 young women, including aspiring entrepreneurs and students, have found success! 13 teams completed the initial pilot phase, and 6 are moving on to the second phase, focusing on creating business-oriented websites. During the first phase, each team, guided by mentors, developed a business plan with the goal of applying for funding.
Adriana Mančić, an entrepreneur from Pirot with Roma descent, and her team member underwent additional Winnovators training in massage and website creation. Adriana successfully applied for and received subsidies, using the funds to purchase equipment, showcasing the project’s success. Stories like hers and that of another participant, Zdravka Simić from Smederevska Palanka, who also started her own company, can be found on the Winnovators YouTube channel.
The Association of Business Women in Serbia can offer expertise and best practices for a tailored training manual that caters to the specific needs of young women in higher education. This involves promoting empowerment and inclusivity to enhance skills, encompassing both academic and entrepreneurial capabilities. Their focus on encouraging entrepreneurship, fostering innovation, and advocating for gender-sensitive education among young women actively contributes to the establishment of a more equitable educational landscape within higher education institutions.
This EU project is funded by Erasmus+.