This Sunday, 8^th of March, we celebrate International Women’s Day, a date that commemorates women’s struggle to participate, on equal terms, in society, the labour market, and all areas of public and private life. On this occasion, STARS EU joins this important celebration and has prepared a series of initiatives that will take place across the universities that form part of the alliance, with the aim of highlighting progress, reflecting on the challenges that remain, and continuing to promote equality.

In recent decades, historic advances have been made in rights, education, labour participation and even political participation, although the latter to a lesser extent. However, these advances have not had the same impact globally, and the gender gap persists, being greater in some parts of the world than in others. Furthermore, despite these significant achievements, much remains to be done, particularly in areas related to domestic work, the care economy, and the fight against gender-based and sexist violence.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to gain,” highlights the idea that meaningful progress in gender equality requires deliberate action and contributions from governments, institutions and individuals; when we work to advance women’s rights, we strengthen our societies. In this regard, STARS EU also calls for a more active role from social actors, particularly encouraging men to engage in this important challenge, as only through collaboration and generosity can we build a more equitable and inclusive world.

Aware of the need to continue advancing in the field of rights, STARS EU has established an international working group on Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI). The STARS EU GEDI team works to promote equality, diversity and inclusion across the alliance and its member universities. Inspired by the values symbolised in the Star Wars films, the GEDI team also embraces the idea that “The Force be with us” in our daily work, guiding our collective efforts to achieve meaningful progress towards equality.

STARS EU joint initiatives

Women in Science – Our Women in Science series, which began on 11 February, continues to highlight women’s participation in science until next Sunday.

STARS EU Highlights – On the 11th, a new video podcast entitled GEDI IN ACADEMIA: WHY GENDER EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MATTER will be published, in which we will highlight the importance of universities as spaces for reinforcing diversity, equality and inclusion.

STARS Talks: On 31 March, we will discuss about “Gender-based and sexual violence”.

In addition, our universities have organised an extensive programme of activities at the local level to commemorate this important day.

Hochschule Bremen City University of Applied Sciences

FLINTA* is a group from Bremen University of Applied Sciences that is created with the objective of creating a safe space for FLINTA* people where to exchange ideas and spend time together in a relaxed atmosphere. During the semester, they organise regular meetings and events, such as game afternoons, film evenings, picnics or joint craft activities. Those meetings are by and for FLINTA*.

But what does the term FLINTA* actually mean? FLINTA* stands for women, lesbians, inter, non-binary, trans and agender people. Whether you are FLINTA* or not, they do not presume to judge. No one has to explain or prove themselves to them. You can reach FLINTA group by email (flintastudis@hs-bremen.de), on Instagram (@flintastudishb) or in the WhatsApp community. https://fachschaften-hsb.de/flinta/

University of La Laguna

The ULL has developed an extensive programme to commemorate 8 March, including talks, debates, exhibitions and activities aimed at commemorating Women’s Day and highlighting the importance of continuing to work towards full equality and diversity in our societies. These are some of the initiatives planned for these days:

Commemoration ceremony, Monday 9 March, at 12 noon:

1. Presentation of the micro-documentary “La palabra heredada” (The Inherited Word).
2. Musical performance by Ida Susal, singer-songwriter.
3. Reading of the Manifesto of the Network of Equality Units of Spanish Universities by the Gender Equality Unit.

Daughters of Fear: Gender violence through the eyes of children, a space for dialogue committed to the protection and comprehensive care of victims of gender violence. On March the 13th, the ULL, through the University Institute of Women’s Studies (IUEM), in collaboration with local stakeholders, will hold this space for dialogue with judges and jurists who are authors of the book Hijas del Miedo (Daughters of Fear), which will address gender violence by highlighting the impact it has on children and adolescents who grow up in violent environments, as well as on their mothers and caregivers, reflecting on the consequences of this violence on the development and well-being of children and on the situation of women who suffer it.

Purple march for sport. The Sports Service of the University of Laguna invites the university community to participate in the ‘Violet march for sport’ on Tuesday, 17 March 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in celebration of International Women’s Day, under the slogan “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls.”

Bragança Polytechnic University

IPB presents the International Women’s Day celebrations, with the theme “Women’s Journeys: Challenges and Achievements”, which will take place on March 11, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

The event is intended as a moment of reflection and sharing on women’s professional paths and affirmation, gender equality, and the fundamental role of higher education in building active and inclusive citizenship. The program includes a keynote speaker “Breaking stigmas, building bridges” (the first Romani female lawyer in Portugal), the session “Dress my skin…the empathic power of an advertising campaign”, a round table with testimonials from female graduates from each of the IPB’s Higher Schools, and cultural moments by female teachers, students, and staff at IPB.

Alexander Moisiu University

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the University “Aleksandër Moisiu” of Durrës (UAMD) has organized a social and awareness initiative dedicated to celebrating and recognizing the role of women in society. The main activity is a social discussion titled “Ftesë – Për ty që mban botën mbi shpatulla me dashuri të madhe!” (Invitation – For you who carry the world on your shoulders with such big love), which will take place on 8 March 2026 at 18:00 at the Cultural Center in Durrës. The event brings together high school students from Durrës, Kavajë, Fushë Krujë and Krujë, as well as UAMD students and representatives from civil society.

The initiative aims to encourage reflection on the role, challenges, and contributions of women in society, while also promoting dialogue between young people, academia, and the wider community.

In addition to the discussion event, UAMD has prepared a special video initiative involving both academic and administrative staff of the university. In the video, staff members symbolically receive a rose from UAMD in recognition of their contribution and dedication. This gesture represents appreciation, respect, and gratitude toward the women who contribute daily to the academic and institutional life of the university.

Through these activities, UAMD reaffirms its commitment to promoting respect, inclusion, and recognition of women’s contributions within the university community and beyond.

Hanze University of Applied Sciences

On March 9^th, there will be a lecture on health and menopause by Dr. Madelon Va  Oostrom at Hanze University. She is Associate Professor Digital Literacy and Inclusion and member of LeanIn, the organization of the meeting.

Cracow University of Technology

On March 9, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., a special event – Women’s Forum 2026 titled “The Future Belongs to You” – will take place on the campus of Cracow University of Technology. The event is designed for ambitious women who want to consciously build their career paths in the engineering and business sectors, as announced by the organizers: the Foundation for the Support of Sustainable Construction and the Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers.

Programme:

Panel I – Women of Success: Stories of female engineers who have achieved success in the industry and will share their professional journeys, challenges, and practical advice for those just starting out.

Panel II – Building a Personal Brand and Conscious Career Planning: Meetings with HR specialists and lawyers. You will learn, among other things: how to effectively search for a job in the technical sector, how to prepare a professional CV, how to create a standout LinkedIn profile, what the difference is between a B2B contract and an employment contract, and which form of cooperation to choose at the beginning of your career.

The alliance demonstrates its commitment to full and inclusive participation of women in scientific and technological fields through Women in Science

Every year, on February 11, the world commemorates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, an official United Nations celebration dedicated to promoting full and equal participation in STEM fields. This day highlights the achievements of women in science and raises awareness of the gender gaps that still persist.

Despite significant progress in recent years, the gender gap in science remains a reality, both globally and in the European Union. The most recent data confirm that, despite advances, gender inequality in science persists. Worldwide, only one in three researchers is a woman, reflecting structural underrepresentation. In the European Union (EU), women represent 34 % of research personnel, according to the She Figures 2024 report.

Women Graduates

In higher education, women are the majority among graduates at bachelor’s and master’s levels, even in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. However, this trend weakens in later stages of scientific careers. Although women make up 48 % of doctoral students, they are less likely to pursue these studies (8 % compared to 11 % of men).

Female representation varies significantly by field. Women are the majority in Education, exceeding 60 % of doctoral graduates, while remaining underrepresented in Information and Communication Technologies and Engineering, where they do not reach 40 %. Furthermore, since 2018, there has been a decline in female presence in disciplines such as physical sciences, mathematics, and statistics.

In the labour market, women constitute only 25 % of self-employed professionals in science, engineering, and ICT. This inequality is more pronounced at the highest levels of academic careers, where women occupy only 30 % of top academic positions (grade A), even in areas where they are more prevalent at earlier stages.

Persistent Challenges

Despite advances in access to education, women still face obstacles such as lack of funding, gender stereotypes, and discriminatory practices in the workplace. This exclusion limits collective capacity to address global challenges such as climate change, public health, or space security. In this context, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has reiterated the need for more women scientists, especially in STEM fields.

This year, the theme of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026 is: “Synergy between AI, Social Sciences, STEM, and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls,” emphasizing the importance of gender equality in emerging technologies.

Women in Science

To celebrate this day and demonstrate its commitment to inclusive participation of women in scientific and technological fields, STARS EU presents Women in Science, a series of interviews highlighting brilliant women who drive scientific progress daily across its nine associated institutions. This initiative calls on the university community to continue working towards a more equal and inclusive world.

From February 11 until March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day, nine individual video portraits will be shared, each dedicated to a STARS EU researcher whose work embodies the spirit of this international commemoration. Whether in cutting-edge technologies, public policy, social analysis, or sustainable solutions, these scientists showcase the impact and potential of women in science.

The videos will feature their career journeys: what motivated them to become researchers, the challenges they have faced, and the advice they offer to young women and girls considering a scientific career.

Their stories offer an opportunity to reflect and share ideas on how far we have come, but also on how much work remains. Their experiences demonstrate that science progresses when every voice can contribute.