The value of a social innovation initiative is not measured solely by its local impact but also by how effectively it can be adapted to other contexts. This leap to the next level is particularly important for projects that seek to address systemic issues.
For SIXAGON, one such development is that the project “Be a Number Queen!”, developed within our professional partnership, has been featured on the Social Innovation Match (SIM) platform. The platform operates under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and aims to identify, connect, and highlight social innovations that go beyond the level of local interventions.
Early intervention addressing a structural problem
“Be a Number Queen!”—developed by Eszter Miklós—addresses a well-documented phenomenon: the early decline in girls’ engagement with mathematics and science subjects. This process is not merely an educational issue; in the long term, it also affects career choice patterns and labor market inequalities.
The project’s methodological response to this challenge is the use of drama pedagogy. During structured, multi-session workshops, participants encounter mathematical and logical tasks through experience-based activities. The emphasis is not on performance, but on strengthening a sense of competence and reinterpreting their relationship to the subject. This approach aligns well with international trends that treat the gender gaps observed in STEM fields not merely as a matter of knowledge transfer, but as a question of shaping attitudes.
Educational intervention or social innovation?
The project can be interpreted as a targeted educational program, yet it goes beyond that. The timing, methodology, and social objectives of the intervention clearly place it within the realm of social innovation The focus is not solely on developing individual skills, but on the structural problem that leads to the underrepresentation of girls in high-value technology and engineering fields. In this sense, the program not only responds to a problem but also seeks to influence the long-term reproduction of the problem.
Social Innovation Match: institutional validation and screening mechanism
Social Innovation Match is not an open database but a curated platform featuring initiatives that meet specific professional criteria. These include the relevance of the problem, methodological soundness, and the potential for adaptability and scalability. The platform thus not only provides visibility but also serves as a form of professional validation.
In the case of “Be a Number Queen!”, this is particularly relevant, as the project builds on methodological elements that can be applied in other educational settings. The drama-based pedagogical approach is not tightly bound to a specific institutional structure, making it potentially well-suited for adaptation across different countries and educational systems.
Connection to a European professional network
The opportunity for connection is key to the development of social innovations. The impact depends not only on the project’s internal quality but also on the networks it can join and the collaborations through which it can continue to develop. Appearing on the SIM platform is therefore not the conclusion but rather a redefinition of the project’s next phase. The focus will now shift to mapping out opportunities for adaptation and expanding partnership structures.
The question is not whether the model is viable—experience to date supports this. Rather, it is under what conditions and through what collaborations it can function in a meaningful and sustainable way in other contexts.
