Across Europe, girls remain underrepresented in computing and ICT studies and careers. The HER TECH project (“Her Tech, Her Terms. Engagement as the key”) brings together partners from seven countries to better understand what happens in schools when girls first encounter computing, how they experience it over time, and what helps them continue.
Why interviews, and why now
School systems differ widely in when and how pupils meet computing and programming. Because of these differences, HER TECH is using qualitative research rather than a single standardised survey. Partners first mapped where computing appears in national curricula and when pupils have their first substantial contact with programming. Building on that, we are now conducting semi-structured interviews with teachers and school leaders to document real experiences, practices and school-level conditions that shape girls’ engagement.
What we are looking for
The interviews are organised around four research dimensions:
- Access: what opportunities pupils actually have (time, tools, course options, devices, staffing).
- Belonging: classroom climate and whether students see themselves as legitimate participants.
- Recognition: whose contributions are valued and who gets credit for technical work
- Progression: key decision points—how students move from “trying it once” to continuing, specialising, or dropping out.
These dimensions help move the conversation from general statements (“girls are less interested”) to concrete school realities: course offers, timetabling, teaching approaches, group-work roles, guidance messages, and the everyday signals students receive about who ICT is for.
Who we invite to participate
In each country, partners aim for approximately 6–8 interviews, prioritising variation in roles and contexts rather than statistical representativeness (around 40–55 interviews across the consortium). We invite:
- Teachers at pupils’ first substantial contact with computing/programming (primary or lower secondary, depending on the system).
- Teachers at a later choice/specialisation stage (upper secondary computer science, technology tracks, VET/HEI programming).
- Teachers in other subjects who use programming, robotics or digital making.
- School leaders (principal/deputy/head of STEM/ICT).
- Where relevant, guidance staff and external actors (NGOs, science centres, industry–school initiatives).
Why schools may want to take part
Participation offers a structured opportunity to reflect on how pupils—particularly girls—encounter and move through computing in your school, and to contribute to a European evidence base that will produce practical recommendations and case studies for school development. If desired, we can provide a short summary of the main findings related to your school after the interviews.
Invitation
HER TECH is currently recruiting teachers and school leaders for the interview phase. If your school is willing to participate, the process is simple: a brief confirmation from school leadership, nomination of relevant staff profiles, and then direct contact from the research team to schedule interviews at convenient times.
