As part of HER TECH’s comparative research across ten European countries, the Croatian analysis provides a detailed examination of how girls and women develop – or lose – interest in ICT from early childhood to professional life. Drawing on surveys, interviews, and extensive desk research, the findings reveal a pattern that is both uniquely Croatian and closely aligned with broader European trends.
Change grows from people, not institutions
In Croatia, girls’ interest in ICT is shaped primarily by personal connections. Encouragement from families, peers, teachers, and trusted female role models plays a much greater role than national strategies or formal policy measures.
Families and schools create the emotional context for learning, and it is here that girls decide whether technology feels for them. Yet these same environments also transmit subtle stereotypes: girls are praised for diligence and neatness, while boys are encouraged to experiment. Over time, this shapes confidence – not through explicit barriers, but through thousands of small expectations and cues.
Interview insights reinforce this: “Girls are curious and fearless until about ten or eleven years old,” one educator noted. “Then something shifts – suddenly they feel they have to get everything right.”
Universities lead the way in inclusion – but too late in the pipeline
Among all institutions, universities stand out as the most active and supportive environments for women in ICT.
Initiatives such as A1 STEMfemme, Gender Equality Plans inspired by EU projects, and events like WiDS Zagreb have created spaces where women feel represented, heard, and encouraged. They offer mentorship, leadership development, and practical opportunities that help women navigate male-dominated disciplines.
However, this support arrives after key decisions have already been made. By the time students reach university, their confidence and sense of belonging in STEM are often already established. This makes early, continuous engagement essential – something still largely missing in the formal education system.
Hands-on, playful, and social learning keeps younger girls engaged
The most effective programmes for girls aged 10–17 share a common feature: they make technology fun, creative, and meaningful.
Initiatives like RoboGirls, CODING4GIRLS, Girls Own STEM!, STEMfemme Junior, and Djevojke Inovatorice show that girls thrive when learning involves teamwork, experimentation, and real-world problem-solving. These activities counteract the moment – often during early adolescence – when girls start disengaging from STEM due to stereotypes or rigid teaching styles.
These programmes succeed because they present technology not as an isolated skill, but as a way to create, imagine, and collaborate.
Grassroots energy outperforms national strategies
One of the clearest Croatian patterns is the strength of local ecosystems. Companies, NGOs, universities, and community organisations have become the most dynamic actors in promoting gender equality in ICT. Their initiatives are flexible, hands-on, and personal – qualities that resonate strongly with girls and young women.
In contrast, national policies remain largely declarative. They acknowledge the problem but rarely offer concrete, sustained mechanisms to address it. As one interviewee put it: “We have good strategies, but real change comes from people who care enough to start something.”
A story of both progress and imbalance
The Croatian results reveal a country full of potential: committed educators, motivated female professionals, innovative NGOs, and companies willing to invest in the next generation.
At the same time, progress is uneven. Many initiatives are short-term, geographically limited, or dependent on project funding. Early education still lacks hands-on ICT and STEM approaches, and cultural expectations continue to influence girls long before they choose a field of study.
New Insights from Croatia: What Shapes Girls’ and Women’s Pathways into ICT
The Croatian chapter of HER TECH shows a landscape in transition – one where personal passion and grassroots innovation are pushing the system forward, even when institutions move slowly.
