Women's power in MINT: Summer university for female engineers in Bremen!

Women's power in MINT: Summer university for female engineers in Bremen!

The University of Bremen invites you to the 28th Informatica Feminale and the 17th Women's Engineering Summer University, which will take place from August 20th to September 4th, 2025 on the university campus. These events are aimed specifically at high school graduates, students of all disciplines and women who are interested in further education. An extensive program of around 60 courses on technical sciences and interdisciplinary areas aims to support young women who are interested in technical careers.

The offering includes, among other things, workshops on professional and career development with a particular focus on the sustainability and social impact of technologies. The participants have the opportunity to learn in small groups under the guidance of international lecturers who come from both science and practice. The lessons take place either in German or English.

Diverse range of events

The registration fee is 40 euros for students and non-employed women who want to take part in the event for three weeks. Working women pay 40 euros per day. Travel scholarships are available for female students to make travel easier. Free child care is also offered throughout the events. The registration deadline is July 31, 2025.

Participants have the opportunity to attend several half-week courses and acquire certificates of achievement and credit points. Excursions to research institutes, technical companies and cultural institutions are also part of the program. Companies and institutions introduce themselves and specifically seek contact with students or new employees, which supports network building and the career opportunities of the participants.

Information and registration can be done via the Informatica Feminale Portal. If you have any further questions, Henrike Illig and Veronika Oechtering from the Competence Center for Women in Science and Technology at the University of Bremen are available. You can be reached by phone at +49-421-218-64469 or by email at ifis-summerschools@uni-bremen.de.

Challenges for women in STEM fields

The underrepresentation of women in MINT subjects (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology) remains a central issue. For example, according to 2018 Eurostat data, there were 2.6 times as many men as women in engineering and 3.9 times as many in information and communications technology. In the manufacturing sector, women represented only 21% of researchers and technical professionals. Given these surveys, it is crucial to support programs such as the Informatica Feminale and the Engineering Summer University to promote gender equality in these fields.

Projects like GEECCO, funded by the EU, aim to remove barriers to women in research and strengthen their role in science and technology. By developing tailored gender equality plans for universities and research institutions, GEECCO creates awareness of the importance of the gender perspective in research, teaching and decision-making. Brigitte Ratzer from TU Wien and other experts highlight the need to strengthen gender equality in STEM research and education in order to meet a knowledge-based economy.

The Informatica Feminale and the Engineering Summer University at the University of Bremen are current steps in this direction, encouraging women to acquire technical skills and expand their career prospects.