The HERA project aims to empower women aged 45+ through reskilling and lifelong learning. Focused on increasing the participation of women in adult education, HERA addresses the challenges posed by the rapid digital and green transitions, while promoting social inclusion and addressing skills shortages linked to the green and digital transitions.
Helping Empower Women through Reskilling and Advancement
Europe is undergoing rapid digital and green transitions, while many sectors continue to report persistent skills shortages. A significant group remains underrepresented in adult education and reskilling pathways: women aged 45 and over. The Helping Empower Women through Reskilling and Advancement (HERA) project was designed to address this gap. Co-funded by the European Union under Erasmus+, HERA runs from March 2025 to August 2027 across eight European countries, including the Netherlands, with the aim of increasing the participation of women 45+ in lifelong learning and strengthening their position in the labour market.
Transformation requires not only innovation in technology and infrastructure, but also strategies that enable experienced workers to reposition themselves. Many women 45+ bring valuable professional and life experience, yet encounter barriers when navigating new training systems or shifting sectors. HERA responds by developing local ecosystems in which women, employers, adult education providers, and public institutions collaborate to assess skills, identify opportunities, and co-design realistic reskilling and upskilling pathways.
HERA Labs in the Netherlands
At Rotterdam School of Management, 20+ women joined the HERA Lab during the initial phase, working on building connections and exploring themes related to career transitions, labour market changes, and personal development. The Lab is embedded in a broader local ecosystem that brings together stakeholders from education, employment, and relevant productive sectors, helping ensure that individual development pathways are aligned with labour market realities.
In practice, the Lab sessions provide a structured and supportive environment where participants can reflect on their existing skills and experiences, identify priorities for their next career steps, and explore realistic routes for upskilling or reskilling. Discussions focus on how digitalisation and sustainability trends are reshaping roles across sectors, and what this means for women who want to re-enter the labour market, change direction, or strengthen their professional position. Alongside peer exchange, the Lab approach helps participants connect personal ambitions with concrete opportunities, including training options, emerging job profiles, and local support services.
From the very beginning, the energy in the room was truly inspiring. What stood out most was not only the willingness of the women to learn, but their commitment to one another. Each week, they continued meeting in self-organized groups, taking ownership of their journeys and actively designing the next chapter of their professional and personal lives together. This collective energy, grounded in mutual support, curiosity, and courage, shows the powerful impact that emerges when women are given the space to connect, reflect, and grow.
Sevda Rizehkar, Research Coordinator HERA Project
Reshaping Work contributes to the project through policy experimentation and impact measurement activities, as a local parner in The Netherlands. This includes organising Lab sessions, engaging policymakers, businesses, and education providers, and convening conversations that translate practical insights into evidence-based policy recommendations. Through this collaboration, the Lab acts not only as a learning and empowerment space for participants, but also as a mechanism for gathering grounded insights into the barriers and enabling conditions that shape lifelong learning and employment pathways for women aged 45+.
Expanding Impact Through an AI platform and Policy
Looking ahead, the Netherlands HERA Lab will continue to strengthen links with local stakeholders to support progression from reflection and planning into concrete actions, such as connecting with relevant training providers, mentoring opportunities, and employment pathways.
To expand its impact, the project will develop the HERA Community Portal, an AI-powered platform offering personalized skills assessments, career guidance, and access to lifelong learning opportunities. This digital tool will ensure that the project’s benefits extend beyond the pilot regions.
The project will produce Policy Recommendations to support the empowerment of women 45+ and address labour shortages in high-demand sectors, ultimately seeking to close the gender gap in employment, offering women 45+ the skills needed for a future-ready workforce.
Women aged 45+ in the Netherlands who are interested in strengthening their skills, building networks, and exploring new professional pathways are invited to follow project updates and connect to learn more about upcoming sessions.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.