The University of Salento, in collaboration with a consortium of seven organizations, including three universities from Italy, Spain, Austria, Romania, and Belgium, is pleased to announce the successful completion of the two-year project titled “Data Science in Human & Social Science for Women Empowerment”, an international project co-founded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Programme.

The consortium comprised seven organizations, including three universities, from Italy, Spain, Austria, Romania, and Belgium, working collaboratively to advance women's empowerment in the field of data science.

The primary objective of the project was to promote a career in data science among women, fostering increased skills in data science among female students, promoting STEM disciplines, and introducing data science curricula in European universities. The project culminated in several concrete outcomes aimed at empowering women in the field of data science. Key results achieved in implementation are:

1. Open Education Resource Platform: an open education resource platform to facilitate access to valuable learning materials in data science.
2. Common Training and Education Framework: a pedagogical reference that identify training areas of interest for data scientist in the making and related learning outcomes.
3. Training Materials for Beginners: accessible and informative training materials designed to support beginners in their journey into the field of data science.
4. Guidelines for Data Science Occupations: guideline outlining various data science occupations and professional opportunities for graduates, serving as a valuable resource for those entering the workforce.

As a direct result of the project's success, the University of Salento is proud to announce the launch of a new master degree program in Data Science in Social Science. The pilot of the project played a pivotal role in the development of this innovative program, providing an opportunity for students to delve into the intersection of data science and social science. The closing ceremony of the project and the launch of the new degree program were celebrated at the University of Salento.

The event saw the active participation of all project partners, presentations of results to staff and students, and a formal welcome by the Director of the Department, Prof. Mariano Longo.

We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of the 'Data Science in Human & Social Science for Women Empowerment' project. Over the past two years, our consortium has worked tirelessly to promote data science education among women and encourage their participation in STEM disciplines. The launch of the 'Data Science in Social Science' degree program at the University of Salento marks a significant milestone in our journey. We extend our gratitude to all project partners for their dedication and support in making this initiative a resounding success. Together, we are shaping a more inclusive future for the field of data science.

All project results and additional resources are available for free and in multilanguage version via the official OER platform of the project.