Within the framework of the ELA4ATTRACT - Empower LA HE for Inclusion and STEAM Attraction project, co-funded by Erasmus+, a series of training programs were successfully developed in Latin America between May and June 2025. The activities took place at leading universities in Colombia, Dominican Republic, Argentina and Chile.

The sessions were facilitated by specialists from European partner universities-Universidadede Lisboa, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Universität Stuttgart and KTH Royal Institute of Technology-who shared best practices and tools to reduce gender gaps in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The trainings brought together faculty, administrative staff, students, alumni and university authorities, providing tools and strategies to incorporate the gender perspective in the attraction, retention, teaching and research in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), with a strong focus on gender equity and inclusion.

Among the main milestones are the following:

• Colombia: training sessions at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana - PUJ and Universidad de los Andes - UNIANDES (May 6-9) with more than 150 participants in ten sessions, which highlighted the relevance of the workshops to raise awareness, promote institutional changes and inspire concrete actions towards equity.
• Dominican Republic: Workshops at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra - PUCMM, with the participation of collaborators from the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo - INTEC (May 12-14), which brought together a total of 71 participants. The workshops addressed curricular transformation, student retention with a gender focus and inclusive education.
• Chile: Workshops at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Universidad de Chile (June 3-6) on student attraction, mentoring, inclusive teaching and retention strategies, with more than 150 participants.
• Argentina: Programs at the National University of Cuyo - UNCUYO and the Technological Institute of Buenos Aires - ITBA (June 9-12) focused on gender in teaching, research and institutional policies, with more than 100 on-site attendees and 158 virtual participants.

The satisfaction of the attendees was high (with averages above 4.6/5), highlighting the usefulness of the practical tools, the exchange of experiences and international best practices.

Throughout the region, the workshops fostered new initiatives to integrate a gender perspective into university governance, admissions processes, research practices and communication strategies. Participants stressed the importance of involving more male faculty and continuing to strengthen networks to ensure sustainable change.

These programs represent a key step in promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in higher education, reinforcing the commitment of Latin American universities to overcoming structural barriers in STEM and fostering sustainable cultural transformation processes, with solid foundations for a future where STEM education empowers women and underrepresented groups throughout Latin America.