The University of Huddersfield is set to launch a collaboration with Global Engineer Girls (GEG), a philanthropic initiative dedicated to empowering young women in engineering worldwide.
The partnership, which is one of the first in the UK for GEG, will be formally signed off in February as part of the University’s ongoing commitment to widening participation, improving gender equity, and expanding opportunities for women in STEM.
The announcement of the collaboration coincides with UNESCO’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated annually on 11 February. The 2026 theme, From vision to impact: Redefining STEM by closing the gender gap, highlights the urgent need to advance gender equality in science and technology as women continue to be underrepresented in research worldwide, comprising less than one-third of all researchers. As a result, UNESCO is calling on institutions worldwide to strengthen pathways that support women into scientific and technical careers.
Founded in Türkiye in 2015, Limak Group’s Global Engineer Girls has already supported more than 2,000 young women across eight countries through mentorship, skills training, networking, and industry exposure. The organisation’s mission is to increase the number of women in STEM fields.
A major opportunity for Huddersfield’s young women in STEM
Huddersfield’s partnership with GEG will initially launch within the School of Computing and Engineering, where the first cohort of female students will be invited to take part. These students will gain access to the full suite of GEG opportunities, including:
- International mentorship from senior women in global engineering and technology sectors
- Individually tailored training programmes designed to enhance leadership, confidence, and professional readiness.
- A global peer network connecting students with thousands of aspiring and professional engineers worldwide.
- Opportunities for internships, networking, and international events, including the annual GEG gathering in Istanbul.
Following this pilot, the scheme will be expanded to young women across all STEM disciplines at the University.
Dr Karl Walton, Acting Head of Engineering, commented on the new collaboration: “As one of the first partners in the UK for GEG, our female students on STEM courses at Huddersfield will have the great opportunity to have individually tailored training and mentoring from senior women in international industry. They will also benefit from networking opportunities and the chance to visit Istanbul for the annual GEG gathering.”
Mustafa Kursat Asardag, Executive Director and CFO of Limak International Limited, added: “At Limak, we are committed to empowering young women in engineering and STEM subjects through the Global Engineer Girls (GEG) initiative. The upcoming launch of the GEG UK chapter is a testament to this commitment. We are proud to support the next generation of female engineers at the University of Huddersfield’s School of Computing and Engineering, and we look forward to seeing them excel in shaping the future with confidence.
