Chernihiv Polytechnic National University is continuing to implement the “Gender Mentoring (Women in Science)” programme, which aims to support female students in STEM disciplines and enhance their professional activity. As part of this programme, on 4 December, the Tutoring and Mentoring Centre, in collaboration with the Centre for Gender Education, held a practical workshop entitled “STEM Without Borders: Women Making a Difference”. The event brought together five leading mentors who shared their personal stories of becoming involved in STEM, outlined current challenges, and answered students’ questions about opportunities for professional growth.

The mentors for the event were:

• · Olena Savchenko — Head of the Department of Architecture and Design at Chernihiv Polytechnic National University;
• · Iryna Bilous — Head of the Department of Information Technology and Software Engineering at Chernihiv Polytechnic National University;
• · Mariia Dorosh — Professor of the Department of Information Technology and Software Engineering at Chernihiv Polytechnic National University;
• · Mariia Voitsekhovska — Associate Professor of the Department of Information Technology and Software Engineering at Chernihiv Polytechnic National University, Head of the University’s Research Department;
• · Yuliia Daineko — Chair of the Board of the Chernihiv IT Cluster.

During the meeting, the mentors shared their personal experiences of professional development, discussed the role of the university in scientific careers and the current challenges for women in technological fields. Particular attention was paid to successful strategies for professional growth and avoiding typical mistakes. During the interactive part of the workshop, under the guidance of mentors, the students developed personal development maps using the GROW methodology, which allowed them to gain a clearer understanding of their future career path and outline further effective steps.

The workshop served as an important platform for discussing current issues, finding solutions, and supporting female students who aspire to build a career in STEM. We would like to thank the mentors for their time and willingness to share their knowledge and experience, and all the participants for their interest and active participation.

The event was held as part of the “Gender Mentoring” (Women in Science) scheme under the Erasmus+ KA2 PROMENT project “Promoting vocational education and active student participation through the establishment of a comprehensive mentoring and tutoring system in institutions.” The project is co-funded by the European Union, but the views and opinions expressed are those of the authors of this project and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the grant provider can be held responsible for them