womENcourage 2025

This month, we are pleased to repost an earlier article from ACM-W Europe’s newsletter (originally available at https://acmweurope.acm.org/newsletter-september-2025/), to celebrate the flagship event for the region, in its 12th edition. Congratulations to the Communications team in Europe for this excellent account of such an inspirational event.

A Celebration to Remember: womENcourageTM 17 – 19 September 2025

12th ACM-W Europe Celebration of Women in Computing

What an extraordinary three days we shared together in the heart of Transylvania! The 12th edition of womENcourage™ brought our vibrant community together in the historic city of Brașov, surrounded by the majestic Carpathian Mountains, for an unforgettable celebration of women in computing.

Heartfelt Thanks to Our Organizers

Our deepest gratitude goes to the organizing committee from Transilvania University of Brașov, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca and others. Your meticulous planning, tireless dedication, and warm Romanian hospitality created an atmosphere where innovation, learning, and connection flourished.

Celebrating Our Attendees

To every participant who traveled from across Europe and beyond: you made womENcourage™ 2025 truly special. From the researchers presenting groundbreaking posters to the students attending their first international conference, from the industry professionals sharing their expertise in workshops to the hackathon teams coding through the day—each of you contributed to the magic of this event. Your stories, your passion, and your commitment to advancing diversity in technology remind us why this community matters so profoundly.

Celebrating Our Scholarship Recipients: Investing in Future Leaders

A heartfelt congratulations to all our womENcourage™ 2025 scholarship winners! These exceptional students represent the future of computing, and we are honored to support their journey. Following the success of previous years, where generous sponsor support enabled travel scholarships for students, including the prestigious ACM-W Europe Reyyan Ayfer Scholarship for outstanding volunteers, this year’s program continued our commitment to making womENcourage™ accessible to passionate students.

A Special Tribute to Our Student Volunteers

Our student volunteers were the heartbeat of womENcourage™ 2025. Their enthusiasm, hard work, and commitment ensured that every aspect of the conference ran smoothly, creating an engaging and inclusive atmosphere for all participants. From guiding attendees through the beautiful Aula Magna venue to coordinating workshops and supporting the hackathon, these dedicated individuals embodied the collaborative spirit that makes our community thrive. We are especially proud to recognize this year’s Best Volunteer Award winner, whose exceptional dedication and positive energy left a lasting impression on everyone they encountered. To all our volunteers: you are not just helping to run an event—you are actively shaping the welcoming, supportive culture that defines womENcourage™. Thank you for your invaluable service!

Appreciation for Our Supporters

This celebration would not have been possible without the generous contributions of our supporters. Your investment in the next generation of women technologists creates ripples that extend far beyond these three days. Through your support, we provided travel scholarships, enabled cutting-edge workshops, and created opportunities for meaningful connections between students and industry leaders. You are not just supporting an event—you are investing in a more inclusive, innovative future for technology.

Why This Matters: The Power of Community and Education

This year’s theme, “Computer Science: a Catalyst for Educational Change,” resonated throughout every keynote, panel discussion, and hallway conversation. We explored how computing is transforming education through artificial intelligence, quantum computing, human-computer interaction, and ethical technology design. But beyond the technical topics, womENcourage™ addresses something even more fundamental: the critical need for gender balance in informatics.

Women remain underrepresented in computer science at all levels, from undergraduate studies to leadership positions in academia and industry, making increased female representation a grand challenge for the field. Events like womENcourage™ create the networks, mentorship opportunities, and confidence that empower women to persist and thrive in technology careers.

The impact is tangible and lasting. Participants leave with not just knowledge but also connections, role models, and renewed determination. For many students, attending womENcourage™ marks a turning point—a moment when they realize they belong in this field and have a community supporting them every step of the way.

Looking Ahead!

We’re thrilled to announce that womENcourage™ 2026 will happen in Nice, France! Stay connected with ACM-W Europe and start preparing to join us for the 13th edition of this remarkable celebration.

Stay Connected

Follow our journey and share your womENcourage™ 2025 memories:

Until we meet again at womENcourage™  2026, let’s continue supporting, celebrating, and advocating for women in computing. The future of technology is brighter when everyone has a seat at the table.

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