FEM-Up Academy
Join the FEM-Up Call for learners : Empowering Women in STEAM and Entrepreneurship!
Are you a young woman with an innovative idea in the STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics)? This is your chance!
The Erasmus+ FEM-Up project invites you to join the FEM-Up Academy (January – June 2025), a free 6 months mentoring program designed to develop your entrepreneurial ideas in the STEAM fields. The goal is to provide you with the tools and support needed to turn your ideas into reality, promoting female entrepreneurship across Europe.
At least 5 women per country will be selected for the program, making this an exclusive opportunity you don’t want to miss!
Eligibility Criteria:
- Women aged 18 – 30, living in Slovenia, Italy, Malta, Greece, Turkey, or Spain
- B2 level in English (but don’t worry, most of the training will be in your local language!)
- You’ve got an exciting, innovative business idea in the STEAM fields
How to Apply:
Submit:
- A CV with consent for data processing.
- A completed application form (available via this link).
Application NEW Deadline: January the 17th 2025
About the FEM-Up Academy
Are you a young woman with an innovative business idea in the STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics)? This is your chance!
The FEM-Up Academy is an international training and mentoring programme designed to inspire, support, and empower young women, especially those aged 18 – 30, in entrepreneurship and STEAM.
It was developed through a strategic partnership of six organizations from Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, and Malta as part of the Erasmus+ Project FEM-Up – Level Up Female Entrepreneurship and STEM Skills to Foster Women Empowerment (2023-1-SI01-KA220-HED-000158578), addressing gender imbalances by equipping young women with the skills and confidence to bring their innovative ideas to life, and as such part of a broader European initiative aimed at boosting female entrepreneurship across Europe.
Following the successful pilot implementation from January to June 2025, during which 46 participants were selected from 106 applicants across six countries to develop their entrepreneurial ideas, we are motivated and committed to offering the programme in the future as part of the project’s long-term sustainability strategy.
What the FEM-Up Academy Offers
The FEM-Up Academy provides an inclusive and supportive learning environment where aspiring female entrepreneurs, or “fempreneurs,” can enhance their technical and soft skills and develop viable business models. The programme combines self-paced online training modules with on-demand mentorship, offering flexibility and personalized guidance to support each participant’s entrepreneurial journey.
The Academy’s activities are structured into two key components:
- FEM-Up Training Programme: Practical and engaging training sessions designed to develop technical and soft skills needed for launching a start-up.
- FEM-Up Mentoring Programme (on demand): Group or one-on-one guidance from experienced mentors to help participants refine their business ideas and achieve their goals, if they apply for it.
FEM-Up Training Programme
The training programme aims to provide participants with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to excel in entrepreneurship and professional environments. It focuses on building a strong foundation for business success while fostering personal growth and empowerment. By combining practical knowledge with opportunities for self-development, the programme prepares participants to overcome challenges, drive innovation, and contribute meaningfully to their professional and entrepreneurial journeys.
The programme is divided into two modules. Each module combines theoretical insights, practical exercises, and actionable tools for hands-on application.
Module 1: Mastering Soft Skills for Success
The module focuses on building the essential soft skills needed to thrive in professional environments. Through its four learning units, participants will develop key abilities in communication, presentation, and leadership to stand out in the business world. The module highlights skills like public speaking, crafting impactful business stories, and engaging effectively with stakeholders.
The units covered are:
Unit 1: Communication and Presentation Skills
Unit 2: Networking, Negotiation, and Strategic Partnerships
Unit 3: Leadership and Personal Branding
Unit 4: Empowering Women in Business: Overcoming Gender Bias and Fostering Inclusivity
By the end of this module, participants will have the tools to communicate with impact, lead with confidence, and navigate professional challenges with ease.
Module 2: Building a Strong Business Foundation
This module equips participants with essential tools and skills for starting and running a successful business. The focus is on creating sustainable business models, securing funding, maintaining quality, and using market research to fuel growth and success.
The module is designed specifically for beginners and includes four sets of technical skills crucial for launching a start-up:
Unit 1: Business Planning and Strategy
Unit 2: Financial Management and Funding
Unit 3: Quality Assurance and Risk Management
Unit 4: Marketing Skills and Innovation Management
By the end of this module, participants will have the confidence and know-how to build a strong foundation for their entrepreneurial journey.
FEM-Up Mentoring Programme
The FEM-Up Mentoring Programme is a six-month initiative designed to empower young women aged 18–30 in entrepreneurship. It focuses on developing both technical and soft skills, offering participants hands-on guidance, training, and resources to support their growth as future entrepreneurs and innovators.
Like the training programme, the mentoring component is available in six languages.
FEM-Up Academy Entry Requirements, Learning Format, Assessment and Duration
Entry Requirements
- Women aged 18–30, fluent in one of the partner languages: Slovenian, Italian, Greek, Turkish, Spanish, or English.
- A B2 level of English is also required for non-native speakers, as some of the learning resources are available only in English. This level reflects an intermediate proficiency, where a person can communicate clearly on a wide range of topics and understand, produce, and respond to both spoken and written content.
- The programme is designed at the undergraduate level (EQF Level 6), so participants are expected to have prior knowledge equivalent to at least an upper secondary school qualification in order to follow the content successfully.
If candidates choose to apply for the mentoring programme, they should also:
- Attach a CV and a brief description of an innovative or entrepreneurial idea in STEAM that requires support for development.
- Have a background in STEAM fields, which is considered an advantage but not a mandatory requirement.
Learning Format
The programme is delivered entirely online via the FEM-Up Platform, a dedicated e-learning hub designed to empower individuals and organizations by providing access to high-quality training, resources, and tools
The FEM-Up training programme is offered free of charge and can be accessed at any time, from anywhere, in a fully self-paced format. Participants may choose from learning materials available in six languages: Slovenian, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Turkish, and English.
Assessment and Knowledge Evaluation
The programme includes various types of assessments to support your learning journey.
Optional Assessments
Within each module, you will have access to optional tasks, ranging from reflective exercises to practical and analytical assignments as well as self-assessment tests.. These are designed to deepen your understanding of the material and enhance your learning experience.
After each module, you will work on a case study and accompanying task to test your knowledge and understanding of the module’s content in a practical context.
While the optional tasks are not mandatory, we strongly recommend completing them. They provide valuable insights and practice that will support your entrepreneurial journey and help you apply the concepts effectively in real-world scenarios.
Mandatory Assessments (only via mentoring programme, if applied for)
At the end of each module, you will complete self-assessment tests designed to evaluate your understanding of the material. A minimum success rate of 60% is required to progress to the next module.
Duration
The programme contains two modules, each module is divided into focused learning units spanning altogether 10 weeks including work on module-related case studies providing an engaging and comprehensive learning experience tailored to develop personal, professional, and entrepreneurial success.
Estimated workload: 7 hours of independent learning per week depending on pre-knowledge and experience.
After each module, a case study and assignment are available for you to test your progress.
If time, prior knowledge, and experience allow, participants may also choose a fast-track approach and complete the programme earlier.
How to Apply
Interested candidates can register via the FEM-Up Academy platform by creating a free account. Upon registration, participants gain access to learning materials, schedules, and mentoring assignments.
Impact
Through its holistic and cross-cultural approach, the FEM-Up Academy helps bridge the gender gap in entrepreneurship and empowers young women to actively shape the future of innovation and business in Europe.
What the FEM-Up Academy Offers:
- Training on topics such as: Empowering Women in Business, Overcoming Gender Bias, Communication & Presentation Skills, Business Planning & Strategy, Quality Assurance & Risk Management, Marketing & Innovation Management, Networking, Financial Management & Funding, Leadership & Personal Branding.
- Mentoring from professionals in the field.
- Webinars and events with guest speakers on emerging trends and innovation.
- Real-world experiences through visits to local start-ups and learning from fellow entrepreneurs.
- Networking opportunities with peers and experts from 6 countries.
- Exclusive access to the online Jobs of the Future event, where you’ll get inspired by successful businesswomen in STEAM and entrepreneurship!
- Opportunity to win a prize at the FEM-Up contest in Maribor, Slovenia, including a custom-designed business plan and visual identity for your brand!
Duration: January – June 2025
This self-paced 6-month programme is designed to fit around your schedule, allowing you to learn at your own pace while making steady progress towards refining your idea and turning your entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to take your idea to the next level!
Apply now and start your entrepreneurial empowerment journey with the FEM-Up Academy!
Contact:
For more information and to submit your application, contact us:
Slovenia -Doba Business School | Martina Plantak | |
Italy- JOConsulting | Daniela Florio | |
Spain – CEEIM | Laure Raso | |
Greece – iED | Theodora Makri | |
Türkiye – Istanbul University | İlhan Doğan | |
Malta – Skills Zone Malta | Dagmara Dabek |
