Abstract:

STEAM is emerging both in schools and non-formal education, intending to connect young people to reality and the future by bringing new methodologies, learning environments and technologies. The paper proposes a model for such a STEAM approach in organizing girls' youth exchange training within the VIRAGO project, funded by ERASMUS+ EUROPEAN YOUTH TOGETHER – CALL /12/2019. The project activities aim to train and motivate young females to overcome the gender gap and empower them to bring change in their communities. In the beginning, the paper announces the performed survey on "Challenges and prospects for young European women. Broader participation in civic life and leadership" which the partners conducted in 6 countries - Romania, Turkey, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Estonia, and involved 1106 female respondents. The research methodology was constructed by the team from Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, Turkey, one of the project partners, who also analysed and reported some related conclusions. The survey findings, shared within this paper, discuss the set of needed competencies for future professional development, which female respondents evaluate as a must. The paper outlines the design of the educational content to match these specific demands of the target group and discusses how Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics topics integrate in the non-formal 5-day training sessions in urban environment. Having presented that, it examines the suggested model for a STEAM non-formal learning from a methodological point of view. To do that the paper briefly explains how the concepts and the techniques, applied by the educational program, successfully build non-linear network relationships and create sustainable and authentic cognitive nodes. Finally, it shares some positive results and provides conclusions on future applications of the model so that it can be used in future trainings for women in science and technology

Keywords:

STEAM, competencies, non-formal education, educational content.