The Women’s Academy for Rural Innovation brings 20 top female talents to Croatia to shape a sustainable future for rural Europe
on 19/11/2024
Monday 18th November 2024, Velika Gorica (Croatia)
Determined female talents from across Europe have arrived in the Croatian countryside to kick off the second edition of The Women’s Academy for Rural Innovation, a European Leadership Academy (ELA) programme developed under the patronage of Huawei. It is designed to empower women to shape a sustainable and dynamic future for rural areas.
Students were welcomed by Selina WEN, Chief Representative of Huawei to the European Institutions, who shared how the company has demonstrated that diversity drives innovation: “Women are the key to ensuring an inclusive digital transition. Supporting young women in rural areas is a collective responsibility — one that spans governments, civil society, and the private sector. As a tech company, Huawei is fully committed to advancing rural development through innovative technologies that leave no one behind.”
The Academy kicked off with the Inaugural Ceremony at Majestic Park just outside Zagreb, where high-profile leaders and mentors including top business executives and policymakers inspired them to envision a revitalised rural Europe rich with opportunity.
Berta HERRERO, Director of the European Leadership Academy and Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Huawei Europe, recognised that “Women from rural areas go above and beyond to find opportunities, and that is why the future belongs to them.” She emphasised that “in this age of digitalisation, technology means freedom – freedom to create, to design the future, to live life on one’s own terms; but human connection, empathy and collaboration remain of utmost importance. By empowering and supporting women all over Europe, Huawei is helping us make dreams come true”.
For the first time, a European Leadership Academy programme was opened to candidates from Iceland, Türkiye and Switzerland in addition to the previous candidate countries across the EU Member States, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans. The 20 students, selected from a competitive talent pool, come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including engineering, medicine, agriculture and social sciences, and are united by their desire to unlock new opportunities for rural communities. Chosen by an independent jury, they have each received a full Huawei scholarship to attend the Academy and are the living embodiment of the company’s motto Leave no one behind.
Addressing them at the Inaugural Ceremony, Croatian Member of the European Parliament, Karlo RESSLER pointed out that “technological innovations introduced us to a completely different world. This is one of the key determinants of European development and a prerequisite of European competitiveness. He added that “increased technological innovation is one of the key components of these rural areas. Smart villages, precision agriculture, remote business opportunities or renewal energy and sustainable projects – these are all ways in which digital innovation can raise quality of life.”
Jose CEPEDA, Member of the European Parliament from Spain told students that “the EU is of enormous importance for the digitalisation of rural areas. It has launched a number of initiatives and tools to close the digital and urban divide. They make rural areas better equipped to overcome the variety of challenges, like facing climate change or pollution.” He underscored that “initiatives such as this Academy will be very useful to give you the digital skills that will allow you to lead the digital transition in your communities.”
Mary COUGHLAN, former Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland and longstanding supporter of the European Leadership Academy remarked that “the energy here is fantastic, and the opportunities given here will be grabbed with both hands,” adding that “digitalisation is very much part of improved opportunities in rural areas” and “women are catalysts for development.”
Laith ALTIMINE, CEO of SEMI Europe thanked Huawei for bringing this opportunity for women in rural areas and explained that “there are three key parameters to maintain Europe’s global positioning: leadership, gender diversity and innovation. They are crucial to maintain the semiconductor industry, and Europe’s global standing.”
Hosted by former BBC correspondent Luisa BALDINI, the ceremony paved the way for a week of learning, sharing and expanding horizons in a safe and supportive environment in the village of Velika Gorica. The upcoming days are filled with masterclasses, debates and teamwork activities on a broad range of topics, from entrepreneurship, the use of new technologies for green innovation and the digitalisation of SMEs through to accessing funding and placing local products in global markets.
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Press contact:
Aibing GUO, +32-478791859, guoaibing1@huawei.com