The green revolution is pink: the Institute of Management of the Sant'Anna School is one of the partners of the European project GREENIFY, to support young women in pursuing careers in the green economy

In a groundbreaking effort to bridge the gender gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and sustainability fields, the GREENIFY project has officially launched. Co-funded by the European Union under the ERASMUS+ programme, GREENIFY aims to inspire and equip girls and young women, particularly those from rural areas and families without a history of higher education, with the skills and tools necessary to lead in the green economy.
The Sustainability Management Laboratory (SuM) of the Institute of Management at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa is participating in the project as a partner. Its task will be to prepare a training module on sustainability with the aim of directing and promoting the careers of young women in this extremely diverse and varied sector.

Gender Gap Report

Italy has sadly ranked 87th in the world for gender equality in the World Economic Forum's 2024 Gender Gap Report, losing 8 positions compared to the previous year where it ranked 79th. What's more, according to a survey conducted by Ipsos in 2018 and commissioned by the Council of Ministers for Equal Opportunities, despite equal access to education, Italy is unable to guarantee gender equality in access to the labor market as well as equal pay. This gap also affects specific sectors such as STEM. In Italy, in fact, ISTAT (the Italian National Institute of Statistics) has emphasized that only 16.8% of women have a degree in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, compared to 37% of men. This clear disparity highlights the barriers that many women encounter when embarking on a career in these sectors, which are even more accentuated for those coming from rural areas or from families with no university graduates.

Social mobility and gender equality in the fields of sustainability and innovation

GREENIFY seeks to tackle these challenges head-on by developing innovative educational tools, such as a STEM Toolkit and a Sustainability Management Module, to inspire and empower young women across Europe. By focusing on capacity building for STEM educators and providing accessible resources tailored to the needs of girls and young women, the project aims to create pathways for more inclusive participation in the green economy. In Belgium and beyond, GREENIFY is not just closing gender gaps but paving the way for a new generation of leaders driving sustainability and innovation.

As Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated: "The path to full equality is still long. It requires attention and commitment, every day, from each and every one of us. So that the next generation of women can finally get what they deserve: a world of equal rights and opportunities, for all." 

GREENIFY embodies this vision, addressing the dual challenges of underrepresentation of women in STEM and the skills gap in the green labor market.

The project brings together a dynamic consortium of partners from Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, and Belgium, united by a shared mission to foster inclusive educational pathways for young women. Over the next two years, GREENIFY will pilot its tools in various educational contexts, working closely with STEM teachers, vocational education trainers, and policy stakeholders to ensure long-term sustainability and adoption.

“The Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies”, explains Tiberio Daddi, professor of Business Economics and Management at the Sant'Anna School and scientific director of the project, ‘will be specifically involved in the preparation of a training module on sustainability with the aim of directing and promoting the careers of young women towards this extremely diverse and varied sector’.

By addressing structural barriers and fostering collaboration among educational institutions, policymakers, and the business community, GREENIFY seeks to position young women as leaders of the green revolution. The aim is to create not only skilled professionals but also a cultural shift that positions young women as pivotal actors in the green transition.