RIGE - Gender Equality & Inclusion Research Unit

15/10/2026

🌾 International Day of Rural Women | 15 October 2026 💜

✨ Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and invaluable contributions of rural women to our societies, economies, and communities. 🌍 👩‍🌾

✨ Despite their essential role, women living in rural areas continue to face challenges related to equal opportunities, economic independence, access to services, and social inclusion.

💜 Empowering rural women means recognising their contributions, addressing inequalities, and ensuring that no woman is left behind, regardless of where she lives.

📖 On this occasion, we invite you to explore a recent scientific publication, "Exploring the socioeconomic and cultural challenges faced by women in rural Cyprus," which sheds light on the experiences and challenges of women living in rural communities in Cyprus.

🔗 Read the article here:
https://accscience.com/journal/IJPS/12/4/10.36922/IJPS026130064

🌱 Let us continue working towards more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable communities where every woman has the opportunity to thrive! 🙌 💫

This study presents findings from the first national-level survey since 2011 on the socioeconomic and cultural challenges faced by women in rural Cyprus. The study uses a quantitative design with stratified random sampling to survey a representative sample of 610 women. Data were collected using pen...

06/10/2026

🌿 Two years of collaboration for more sustainable higher education! Frederick University Cyprus and RIGE - Gender Equality & Inclusion Research Unit are proud to have contributed to HEI GreenPath alongside our European partners. ✨

💚 Thank you to everyone for the valuable cooperation. The project’s resources will continue to support green skills and sustainable practices among students and university staff. 🙌



Wyższa Szkoła Przedsiębiorczości i Administracji w Lublinie Γεωπονικό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών - Agricultural University of Athens -Οfficial Frederick University Cyprus Mednarodna fakulteta za družbene in poslovne študije - MFDPŠ MEDEA Higher Education Institution for Mediterranean, Europe and Africa

🌱 HEI GreenPath – dwa lata wspólnej pracy, które zostawiają trwały ślad

30 września 2026 r. oficjalnie zakończyliśmy projekt HEI GreenPath: Shaping HEI environment for a sustainable tomorrow.

Przez dwa lata, wspólnie z partnerami z Cypru, Grecji, Słowenii i Malty, pracowaliśmy nad włączaniem green skills i zasad zrównoważonego rozwoju do funkcjonowania uczelni i procesu kształcenia. Wymienialiśmy doświadczenia, testowaliśmy rozwiązania i tworzyliśmy praktyczne materiały dla studentów oraz kadry.

Dziękujemy wszystkim partnerom za zaangażowanie, profesjonalizm i świetną współpracę. 💚

📘 Zachęcamy do zapoznania się z najnowszym rezultatem projektu – broszurą dla kadry uczelni z praktycznymi wskazówkami wspierającymi bardziej zrównoważone funkcjonowanie szkół wyższych.

Projekt się kończy, ale jego efekty zostają i mogą dalej wspierać rozwój uczelni oraz jakość kształcenia. 🌍

EN

🌱 HEI GreenPath – two years of cooperation with a lasting impact

On 30 September 2026, we officially completed the HEI GreenPath: Shaping HEI environment for a sustainable tomorrow project.

For two years, together with partners from Cyprus, Greece, Slovenia and Malta, we worked on integrating green skills and sustainability principles into university life and the educational process. We exchanged experience, tested solutions and developed practical resources for students and HEI staff.

We sincerely thank all our partners for their commitment, professionalism and excellent cooperation. 💚

📘 We also invite you to explore the project’s latest result – a brochure for HEI staff with practical recommendations supporting more sustainable higher education institutions.

The project is ending, but its results remain and can continue to support university development and the quality of education. 🌍

05/10/2026

💻 Μπορεί μια ψηφιακή κοινωνία να είναι πραγματικά δημοκρατική όταν οι γυναίκες και τα κορίτσια εξακολουθούν να υποεκπροσωπούνται στη διαμόρφωσή της;

⚖️ Το χάσμα φύλου στις ΤΠΕ δεν αποτελεί μόνο εκπαιδευτική πρόκληση, αλλά και ζήτημα ισότητας και δημοκρατίας. Οι γυναίκες και τα κορίτσια πρέπει να έχουν ίσες ευκαιρίες, όχι μόνο να χρησιμοποιούν την τεχνολογία, αλλά και να τη σχεδιάζουν, να την αναπτύσσουν και να επηρεάζουν το μέλλον της.

🚀 Μέσα από το έργο Girls' Empowerment in Digital Skills - GEMS EU Project προωθούμε προσεγγίσεις που ενισχύουν την αυτοπεποίθηση των κοριτσιών, αμφισβητούν τα στερεότυπα και δημιουργούν πιο συμπεριληπτικά περιβάλλοντα μάθησης στον χώρο των ΤΠΕ.

🌍 Ένα πιο δίκαιο ψηφιακό μέλλον ξεκινά όταν όλοι και όλες έχουν θέση στο τραπέζι. 🙌

💭 Can a digital society be truly democratic if half of the population is underrepresented in shaping it?

The gender gap in ICT is more than an educational challenge. It is a democratic challenge.

Women and girls must have equal opportunities not only to use technology, but also to design, develop, and influence it. Diverse perspectives lead to more inclusive digital solutions and stronger societal outcomes.

At GEMS, we promote approaches that increase girls' motivation to pursue ICT pathways by:

✅ Strengthening self-efficacy and confidence in technical skills
✅ Encouraging a growth mindset and resilience against stereotypes
✅ Connecting technology to real social impact
✅ Creating inclusive learning environments where girls feel they belong

When girls are empowered to participate in ICT, they become active contributors to the digital infrastructures that shape our future.
🌍 Building a fair digital future starts with ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table.
🌍✨ This project has been co-financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ program with Research | Centro di Ricerca e Sviluppo in ICT .at GmbH .unict Tallinn University Frederick University Cyprus

22/09/2026

🌱How green are your skills?

🌿The HEI GreenPath Student Brochure - “Sustainability Starts with You” is now available!

✏Designed especially for students in the Humanities and Social Sciences, the brochure explores why green skills matter, how they can support your future career, and how small changes in your studies, campus life, and everyday habits can contribute to a more sustainable future. 🌍

Inside, you can discover:
🌿 essential green skills for students
🎓 practical sustainability actions for university life
💼 how green skills are becoming increasingly relevant in different careers
♻️ examples of sustainable campus initiatives and activities
💡 ideas for turning sustainability awareness into action

But don’t stop at reading!

✅ Take the HEI GreenPath Green Skills Self-Assessment and find out where you currently stand.

📖 Explore the Student Brochure
📝 Complete the Green Skills Self-Assessment
👉 https://hei-greenpath.eu/brochure/

Every step towards sustainability counts. Start with yours!🌱



Wyższa Szkoła Przedsiębiorczości i Administracji w Lublinie Γεωπονικό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών - Agricultural University of Athens -Οfficial Frederick University Cyprus Mednarodna fakulteta za družbene in poslovne študije - MFDPŠ MEDEA Higher Education Institution for Mediterranean, Europe and Africa

Publication for HEI teachers Document containing clear guidelines for didactic staff from HEIs about the importance of incorporating green skills into study programs in social sciences and humanities (generally into other than technical fields of studies), and instructions about how to incorporate t...

21/09/2026

🌱 On 18 September 2026, the partners of the HEI GreenPath – Shaping HEI Environment for a Sustainable Tomorrow project came together in Athens for the project’s final consortium meeting, hosted by the Γεωπονικό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών - Agricultural University of Athens -Οfficial.

💡The meeting provided an important opportunity to reflect on the project’s progress, achievements and key results, as well as to discuss the final steps towards the successful completion of the project.

➡️Partners reviewed the integration of green skills and sustainability principles into higher education, the outcomes of the pilot activities, the educational materials and self-assessment tools developed for students and university staff, as well as the project’s dissemination, evaluation and sustainability activities.

💫The meeting also offered an opportunity to discuss how the results and resources developed through HEI GreenPath can continue to be used and further developed by the partner institutions beyond the end of the project.

It was a valuable final meeting and a great opportunity to look back on the work accomplished through our collaboration.🙌

✨Many thanks to the Γεωπονικό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών - Agricultural University of Athens -Οfficial for hosting us and to all project partners for their cooperation and contribution throughout the project. 🌿🙏

14/05/2026

📡 Με αφορμή την Παγκόσμια Ημέρα Τηλεπικοινωνιών και Κοινωνίας της Πληροφορίας (WTISD), υπενθυμίζουμε ότι ο ψηφιακός μετασχηματισμός μπορεί να δημιουργήσει ουσιαστική πρόοδο μόνο όταν είναι πραγματικά συμπεριληπτικός.

💻 Παρά τις σημαντικές εξελίξεις στον τομέα των ΤΠΕ (ICT), οι γυναίκες εξακολουθούν να υποεκπροσωπούνται στον ψηφιακό τομέα, γεγονός που περιορίζει τις ευκαιρίες συμμετοχής, καινοτομίας και επαγγελματικής εξέλιξης.

🌍 Μέσα από το Girls' Empowerment in Digital Skills - GEMS EU Project, το RIGE - Gender Equality & Inclusion Research Unit του Frederick University Cyprus συμβάλλει ενεργά στην ενδυνάμωση των κοριτσιών και των νέων γυναικών στον ψηφιακό κόσμο, προωθώντας την ανάπτυξη ψηφιακών δεξιοτήτων, τη δημιουργία προτύπων και την ισότιμη πρόσβαση σε καινοτόμες μαθησιακές εμπειρίες.

🚀 Η ενίσχυση της συμμετοχής των γυναικών στις ΤΠΕ δεν αποτελεί μόνο ζήτημα ισότητας, αλλά βασική προϋπόθεση για μια πιο καινοτόμο, ανθεκτική και βιώσιμη κοινωνία.

🔗 Ακολουθήστε τις δράσεις του έργου GEMS και ανακαλύψτε πώς συμβάλλουμε σε ένα πιο δίκαιο και συμπεριληπτικό ψηφιακό μέλλον. 🙌

📅 On 17 May we will celebrate the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD)

Digital transformation can only create real value if it is truly inclusive.
Across Europe, women still represent just 1 in 5 ICT professionals, and the gap in digital skills continues to limit participation, opportunities and competitiveness.

Through GEMS, an Erasmus+ project focused on the digital empowerment of girls, we work to reduce this gap by strengthening skills, visibility, role models and access to innovative learning pathways.
Promoting women’s participation in ICT is not only a matter of equality — it is a strategic driver for a more innovative, resilient and sustainable Europe.

🔗 Follow our project activities and discover how we’re building a more equitable digital future!

This project has been co-financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ program. Blanquerna - Universitat Ramon Llull Tallinn University Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica Elettronica e Informatica - Unict RIGE - Gender Equality & Inclusion Research Unit Pedagoška fakulteta Ljubljana / Faculty of Education Ljubljana TLU School of Educational Sciences

04/05/2026

📢 Το GEMS WebApp έρχεται σύντομα! 🌐
✨Είναι μεγάλη μας χαρά που συμμετέχουμε σε αυτή τη σημαντική πρωτοβουλία που προωθεί την ισότιμη συμμετοχή κοριτσιών και νεαρών γυναικών στις ψηφιακές δεξιότητες και το STEM. 🙌
💫Μείνετε συντονισμένοι για την επίσημη παρουσίαση και ανακαλύψτε πώς χτίζουμε μαζί ένα πιο δίκαιο ψηφιακό μέλλον! 💻✨

🌐 GEMS WebApp – Launch Coming Soon!!

We are pleased to announce that GEMS partners are currently completing the translation of the WebApp content, which will soon be available in eight languages, ensuring broad accessibility and European outreach.
Presented to all partners at the end of April, the GEMS WebApp serves as the project’s central communication and dissemination hub. It provides structured and accessible information on project objectives, activities, opportunities for girls and young women, and all open-access results.
The platform integrates research outputs, the EquiTeach Programme, the GEMS Educational Programme, and a showcase of girls’ projects, offering a unified digital space for learning and engagement.

Designed with usability, inclusiveness, and mobile accessibility in mind, the WebApp fully reflects the project’s visual identity and supports WP5 dissemination activities through news updates, visibility tools, and compliance with Erasmus+ requirements.

It will also remain accessible for at least two years beyond the project’s completion, contributing to long-term sustainability.

📢 💻💪 Official presentation coming soon. Stay tuned!!

🔗 Follow our project activities and discover how we’re building a more equitable digital future!

This project has been co-financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ program with Research | Centro di Ricerca e Sviluppo in ICT Blanquerna - Universitat Ramon Llull Frederick University Cyprus RIGE - Gender Equality & Inclusion Research Unit Università degli Studi di Catania di Ingegneria Elettrica Elettronica e Informatica -Unict Tallinn University

29/04/2026

➡️Η ισότητα των φύλων στην τεχνολογία δεν είναι απλώς στόχος, αλλά αναγκαιότητα. 👩‍💻
💫Μέσα από το GEMS ενισχύουμε τις δεξιότητες και τις ευκαιρίες των κοριτσιών στον ψηφιακό κόσμο. 🙌

Gender Equality, STEM Education & Digital Inclusion

Despite progress in STEM education, the gender gap in the digital sector remains a structural challenge.

In 2025, women accounted for only 19% of the ICT workforce, with even lower representation in managerial (13%) and leadership (8%) roles.

This gap is not about skills, but about systemic barriers:

• persistent stereotypes
• unequal distribution of care work
• limited visibility of female role models
• scarce mentoring opportunities
• non‑inclusive professional environments

At the same time, countries such as Sweden, Estonia and Ireland show that integrated policies on digital literacy, work‑life balance, women’s empowerment and educational innovation can deliver tangible results.

Through GEMS, an Erasmus+ project focused on gender equality, STEM education and digital inclusion, we work to strengthen girls’ skills, opportunities and participation in the digital world.

To learn more about this topic, we recommend reading this article from Alley Oop - Il Sole 24 Ore https://alleyoop.ilsole24ore.com/2026/04/20/ict-donne/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-it-it

🔗 Follow our project activities and discover how we’re building a more equitable digital future!

This project has been co-financed by the European Union under the Erasmus+ program with Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica Elettronica e Informatica - Unict Unict Comunica Tallinn University RIGE - Gender Equality & Inclusion Research Unit fakulteta Ljubljana / Faculty of Education Ljubljana Blanquerna - Universitat Ramon Llull Frederick University Cyprus Research - ICT Research and Development Centre