Fundación Iberdrola España and Empieza Por Educar promote five STEM scholarships to bring science and technology to girls
- The Foundation will invest €50,000 in a programme developed together with Fundación Empieza Por Educar to train young teachers and bring science and technology closer to female students in schools with the greatest educational needs.
- The initiative reaffirms Fundación Iberdrola España’s commitment to education, equal opportunities and encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers.
Fundación Iberdrola España and Fundación Empieza Por Educar have renewed, for the eighth consecutive year, the STEM4Girls Scholarship Programme, an initiative aimed at promoting scientific and technological vocations among girls and young women from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, while helping to reduce educational inequalities in Spain.
Under this agreement, Fundación Iberdrola España will contribute €50,000 to fund five scholarships for university graduates or final-year students in STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). The recipients will take part in the two-year educational leadership programme run by Fundación Empieza Por Educar.
The scholarship holders will teach in schools located in socially vulnerable communities, helping to improve educational opportunities for pupils and, more specifically, inspiring girls to explore careers in science and technology through innovative workshops and activities.
The programme reflects both organisations’ commitment to promoting equal opportunities through education and includes a comprehensive pathway of training, mentoring and professional development. Participants will receive specialised training, personalised support and practical classroom experience over a two-year period, although Fundación Iberdrola España’s contribution will cover the first year of each scholarship holder’s participation.
Among the programme’s key activities are workshops specifically designed to foster girls’ interest in science and technology. These sessions will focus on practical scientific challenges, showcase female role models in STEM fields and introduce students to future professions and the opportunities that these disciplines can offer.
The recruitment process for future education professionals is expected to attract more than 2,500 applications from across Spain, with 50 participants ultimately selected. Five of these places will be supported through scholarships funded by Fundación Iberdrola España. Candidates will be assessed not only on academic excellence but also on leadership potential, social commitment, ability to influence others and motivation to create a positive impact on education.
According to Teresa Rodríguez de Tembleque, Head of Education at Fundación Iberdrola España:
“Through these scholarships, we aim to bring STEM subjects closer to girls who, because of their social circumstances, may have fewer opportunities to discover and develop their talent. At the same time, we are supporting the training of a new generation of teachers committed to transforming education.”
For her part, Beatriz Morilla Piñeiro, Chief Executive Officer of Fundación Empieza Por Educar, said:
“Every girl should have the opportunity to discover what inspires her, regardless of where she is born. Through this partnership, we want female students to encounter teachers who inspire them, role models who represent them and experiences that spark their curiosity about science and technology.”
Education, leadership and the careers of the future
The ExE Programme aims to develop educational leaders capable of generating a positive impact on the Spanish education system. To achieve this, it combines theoretical and practical training, personalised mentoring and hands-on experience in schools serving vulnerable communities. Participants contribute to students’ learning while strengthening their own leadership skills and capacity to drive social change.
More than €12 million invested in social initiatives
Through its Social Programme, Fundación Iberdrola España has invested more than €12 million in social initiatives across Spain, benefiting a total of 414,546 people. Since the programme was launched in 2010, the Foundation has supported more than 500 projects in collaboration with over 100 social organisations, helping to tackle child poverty, provide educational support and promote the social inclusion of children, young people and women in vulnerable situations.
The programme has also contributed to the creation of 1,830 jobs and engaged 8,538 volunteers.
Fundación Iberdrola España also focuses its activities on scholarship programmes in the fields of energy, biodiversity and the environment, supports research related to energy and climate change, and promotes cultural initiatives, with a particular emphasis on the restoration and preservation of the artistic and cultural heritage of the Iberian Peninsula