Por María Izquierdo 
The Vice President and Minister of Family and Equal Opportunities has today closed a 2024-2025 course in Zamora with more professional women sponsoring future scientists and with a focus on implementing the ‘FP Steam’ program to eliminate the gender gap in professional training degrees such as electricity, civil engineering, robotics, or industrial chemistry.
May 24, 2025
Castilla y León |
Ministry of Family and Equal Opportunities
The technological and digital change directly affects all areas: the economy, business, public services, and society in general. However, this complex transformation process cannot leave out half of the population, that is, women. The so-called ‘Stem’ professions and careers – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – are predominantly male-dominated. According to the Ministry of Education, 21.6% of students in technological high school are women, representing 54% of the total student population, with figures dropping to 15% in careers such as Computer Engineering. In the case of Vocational Training, female students enrolled in STEM degrees in Castilla y León do not exceed 12%. At the University level, female students choosing a STEM degree do not exceed 25%, dropping to less than 15% in the case of Computer Engineering.
To turn the tide on this situation, the Ministry of Family and Equal Opportunities, along with the Asti Foundation, launched the ‘Stem Talent Girl’ program, aimed at breaking gender stereotypes in these areas and preventing the underutilization of female talent. Through stimulation via training, workshops, guidance, mentorships, or scholarships, the goal is to awaken the scientific-technological vocation of female students pursuing secondary studies.
The Vice President of the Junta of Castilla y León and Minister of Family and Equal Opportunities, Isabel Blanco, has today closed the edition that took place during the 2024-2025 academic year in Zamora, with 1,120 female students, 14% more than the previous year when 983 participated, in 196 educational centers, 10 more than the previous year. In the province of Zamora, 66 girls have been involved in the three program lines: ‘Science for Her’ – to identify talent in third and fourth grade ESO female students, ‘Mentor Women’ – support and mentoring from a mentor to young women studying a ‘Stem’ career in high school or university, and ‘Real Work’ – scholarships and internships in technology-based companies for final year university students.
During this edition, a total of 489 mentors have been part of the program, 60 more than the previous year, a key figure for the development of this initiative, as they are prominent professionals from different scientific and technological sectors who accompany, support, and inspire young women studying a ‘Stem’ field. Additionally, 70 collaborating companies and institutions committed to innovation and equality have participated. Furthermore, 124 informative sessions have been held throughout the community, with 3,455 participants.
However, we must continue to advance along the path of this commitment made by President Mañueco. While this is a field that is gaining more weight in society, there is still a significant gender gap, as pointed out by Isabel Blanco. She added that the Junta will continue to creatively and enthusiastically promote the development of talent and scientific-technological vocations in future generations of women in the community.
Since its inception seven years ago, over 6,000 female students have been trained through its ten headquarters in all provinces of Castilla y León and in Madrid, as well as through online collaboration with the Isabel I University to facilitate access for young women living in rural areas.
Given the success of ‘Stem Talent Girl’ and to promote these vocations at an earlier stage, ‘Steam Talent Kids’ was launched in the 2021-2022 academic year, incorporating art and targeting kindergarten and primary school children, with priority for those residing in small municipalities. In a fun way, through robotic kits and didactic materials, girls and boys work in class, alongside their teacher, on configuring a robot, and later participate in a competition among schools.
This year, 1,515 students participated, 101 more than the previous year, guided by 87 teachers in 38 centers throughout Castilla y León. In Zamora, 53 students were part of the program in two schools, with the assistance of four teachers.
Direct Bet on ‘Stem’ Employment
To go one step further, President Mañueco announced last March the creation of the ‘FP Steam’ initiative, with the specific purpose of increasing the presence of women in professional training degrees related to science and technology. The President himself stated that only one out of ten professional training positions in Stem areas is occupied by women, representing a significant gender gap that has an impact on the labor market. This manifest inequality not only limits female professional opportunities but also negatively affects the competitiveness of strategic and emerging sectors, he added. Therefore, he emphasized the need to stimulate the technological talent of women, often hidden, so that they can develop their scientific and technological vocations.
The program will include mentorship and support networks for female students, an FP Stem Ambassadors Network, a space for collaboration with companies, and its own quality seal for educational centers. Additionally, examples of female role models will be introduced to female students as sources of inspiration. In this way, it is intended that young women opt for highly male-dominated areas such as mechanical manufacturing, electricity and electronics, energy, construction and civil engineering, robotics, or industrial chemistry.