image: The Universitat Jaume I has joined the national STEAM Alliance for Female Talent, promoted by Spain’s Ministry of Education to encourage girls and young women to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, and to help close the gender gap in these fields. Membership requires submitting a project that promotes STEAM careers among girls and adolescents and passing a rigorous evaluation process. The university’s application included three initiatives: "Sucre", which introduces computational thinking and programming in primary and secondary schools; "Ingeniera… ¿por qué no?", which raises awareness and provides resources to increase the presence of women in technical degrees; and "Connecta amb la ciència", a programme offering hands-on workshops and talks to secondary school students led by researchers from the university’s science and technology areas. The Sucre project was established in 2016 with the aim of introducing computational thinking and programming to primary and secondary school pupils. In addition to fostering interest in STEM disciplines, it promotes a scientific mindset through hands‑on projects involving tangible computing components such as sensors and actuators. It applies computational thinking as a tool for solving complex problems through logical reasoning and computational algorithms, while simultaneously encouraging skills that are transferable across a range of disciplines.
Credit: Universitat Jaume I of Castellón
The Universitat Jaume I has joined the national STEAM Alliance for Female Talent, promoted by Spain’s Ministry of Education to encourage girls and young women to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, and to help close the gender gap in these fields. Membership requires submitting a project that promotes STEAM careers among girls and adolescents and passing a rigorous evaluation process.
The university’s application included three initiatives: "Sucre", which introduces computational thinking and programming in primary and secondary schools; "Ingeniera… ¿por qué no?", which raises awareness and provides resources to increase the presence of women in technical degrees; and "Connecta amb la ciència", a programme offering hands-on workshops and talks to secondary school students led by researchers from the university’s science and technology areas.
According to rector Eva Alcón, advancing equality in science requires collective effort, collaboration between institutions and actions that amplify impact. By joining the Alliance, the university aims to reach broader audiences and contribute to a global push to ensure women take their rightful place in future scientific and technological sectors. This initiative aligns with European and national digital education strategies that call for promoting scientific and technological vocations in an equitable way and integrating creativity and the arts into STEM education.
UJI INITIATIVES
The Sucre project was established in 2016 with the aim of introducing computational thinking and programming to primary and secondary school pupils. In addition to fostering interest in STEM disciplines, it promotes a scientific mindset through hands‑on projects involving tangible computing components such as sensors and actuators. It applies computational thinking as a tool for solving complex problems through logical reasoning and computational algorithms, while simultaneously encouraging skills that are transferable across a range of disciplines.
Engineer… why not? is a project developed by the UJI’s Isonomía Foundation. It was created in response to the interest of the School of Technology and Experimental Sciences (ESTCE) in increasing the participation of women in male‑dominated educational fields, such as technical university degrees. The campaign, aimed at secondary school pupils, includes awareness‑raising activities featuring practising female professionals, as well as support materials for teaching staff. These include a teaching unit and a photographic exhibition designed to encourage reflection on the role of women in engineering, providing visibility to thirteen female engineers within their working environments.
The Connect with Science programme was launched in 2012 as an initiative by ESTCE degree departments to promote scientific and technological vocations. It is aimed at secondary school pupils, who participate in practical workshops and talks delivered by research staff from the School of Technology and Experimental Sciences and the Faculty of Health Sciences. These sessions take place across the various UJI sites: Interior, Camp de Morvedre, Norte and Dels Ports. Furthermore, the UDCiCC promotes the participation of female scientists from Castellón in school activities to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the European Researchers’ Night, and through educational materials at Firujiciència.
In the Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027: Resetting education and training for the digital age, the European Commission includes a specific chapter aimed at encouraging women’s participation in STEM studies. The Spanish Government, in its Digital Spain 2026 plan, stipulates that the education system must equitably foster scientific and technological vocations by incorporating artistic and creative dimensions. The STEAM Alliance represents a firm commitment to taking further steps towards achieving this equality.