Empowerment for women

Furtwangen University is a partner in the “Women for Safety, Innovation, and Engagement (F-SIE)” project, which aims to strengthen women's self-image in engineering and technical professions in the long term. The joint project, which started in February 2025, is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) with around €1 million over three years. HFU is collaborating on the project with the Association for the Promotion of German Fire Protection (vfdb e.V.), Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (OVGU), and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM).

The research project is also investigating how women in particular can be specifically recruited for the engineering and safety technology sector and retained in these professions in the long term. As part of this research, a mentoring programme was launched to support women in their professional orientation and career planning.

The first workshop of the F-SIE project took place at the end of September at the BAM premises in Berlin. The aim of the workshop was to bring mentees and mentors together, at the same time teaching important professional skills. The focus was on topics such as leadership skills, communication, and self-confidence. Approximately 22 participants in the programme, which was moderated by Sarah Hahn (vfdb) and Deborah Ruggieri (coach), reflected on and expanded their skills, at the same time, providing support to each other. Two days full of insights, practical exercises, and intensive exchange made the workshop a milestone for many of those present.

This workshop was not only an opportunity for further training, but also a platform to work together on a new leadership culture – characterised by empathy, self-confidence, and a clear vision for the future.

Tilda Noa Schatten, MA, and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Marion Meinert from Furtwangen University participated actively in the workshop. Both contributed their scientific perspective and practical experience in the field of technology and engineering education. They were particularly involved in discussions on career development, the role of women in technical professions, and the importance of a gender-equitable leadership culture. HFU attaches particular importance to combining research and practice – with the aim of incorporating findings from the F-SIE project into teaching and continuing education in the long term. The participation if HFU thus contributed significantly to shaping the workshop not only as a platform for exchange, but also as a catalyst for future scientific and teaching developments.

The two-day programme covered topics such as career planning, personal strengths, and gender-specific challenges. Among other things, the topic of “female leadership culture” was discussed in depth, with participants contributing their own experiences in an open and trusting exchange. On the topic of communication, participants learned, among many other valuable insights, how to recognise misunderstandings and build bridges between different perspectives. The positive feedback on the kick-off workshop highlighted the opportunities and enrichment that the F-SIE project offers to female professionals.

More information about the project and the mentoring programme is available at: https://www.vfdb.de/en/f-sie.