Turning Local Results into National Policy: Inside the EcoVogue National Promotion Conference
Erasmus+ Project: EcoVogue | KA220-SCH-000248664
On Thursday, 6 August 2026, the Event Hall of the Serres Chamber of Commerce played host to a pivotal moment for the EcoVogue project: the National Promotion Conference. This gathering was designed as a multiplier event, one of the key dissemination activities envisioned in the project proposal, with a clear ambition — to take the findings and policy recommendations born out of local classroom work at Aristotelio and place them firmly on the national agenda.
Participants follow the opening presentations in the Serres Chamber of Commerce Event Hall.
Why This Event Mattered
EcoVogue set out to explore an important and often overlooked intersection: sustainable fashion as a gateway into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) for girls. The project's Fashion Club had already produced a national report highlighting the persistent gender gap in STEM fields and offering eight concrete policy proposals to help close it. The National Promotion Conference was the moment to share that work beyond the school walls — with the policymakers, educators, businesses, and civil society organisations who could help turn those proposals into real change.
Bringing the Right People Together
The conference welcomed 25 invited guests spanning four key groups:
Representatives from ministries and public institutions
STEAM educators
Business representatives
NGO representatives
The agenda was built to inform and to spark dialogue. Attendees heard a presentation on the EcoVogue project itself and the achievements of the Fashion Club, followed by a data-driven look at the national gender gap in STEM employment and education. The heart of the event was the presentation of the eight policy proposals developed through the project, which then fed into a lively round-table discussion on how schools, businesses, and institutions can cooperate more closely going forward.
A full house: ministry representatives, educators, businesses, and NGOs attend together.
What the Numbers Show
The post-event survey results speak for themselves:
These figures point to more than just a well-run event — they reflect genuine buy-in from stakeholders who are now ready to act.
In Their Own Words
Feedback gathered during the exit interviews captured the spirit of the day.
"Connecting fashion with chemistry and engineering was an eye-opener — I had never thought of it that way."
— STEAM educator, participant
"The employment gap figures were striking. It's worth supporting the funding line outside metropolitan centres."
— institutional representative
"As a business, we'd like to offer work-experience placements to Fashion Club students."
— business representative
Attendees review the eight policy proposals during the round-table discussion.
Looking Ahead
The National Promotion Conference achieved exactly what it set out to do: it disseminated EcoVogue's findings to a broad and influential audience, and it built momentum for continued collaboration. With the majority of participants expressing support for the policy proposals and a genuine interest in working with the school, Aristotelio will now forward the conference minutes and survey results to the EcoVogue consortium and relevant authorities. This documentation will serve as a foundation for the next phase of policy dialogue — moving the project's vision one step closer to shaping how sustainable fashion can open new doors for girls in STEAM, at a national level.
EcoVogue is co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme (KA220-SCH-000248664). The views expressed are those of the project team and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency.
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