SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – February 8, 2024 –
On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the UK Government in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat
proudly launched the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships. This initiative aims to address gender disparities in STEM education and employment within ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste.
As girls outperform boys in math and science in primary and secondary education in ASEAN countries, a gender gap is beginning to emerge in STEM higher education, with only 19.3% of women earning a STEM degree, compared to 39.8% of men.1. The 2022 UN Progress Report on SDG 5 – Gender Equality – reveals that only 20% of STEM jobs are held by women globally, and various studies highlight disparities in publishing, compensation and career advancement for women in STEM.
Recognizing the importance of these issues, the United Kingdom, through the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (ASEAN-UK SAGE) program, seeks to address gender disparities in STEM by providing greater access to STEM education for women and girls in ASEAN. and Timor-Leste. Emerging from the UK’s formal status as the UK’s Dialogue Partner with ASEAN in 2021, ASEAN-UK SAGE is a pioneering initiative under the ASEAN-UK Action Plan 2022-2026. Launched in 2023, ASEAN-UK SAGE is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) with a commitment of up to £30 million until 2028. The program is implemented by the British Council , the SEAMEO Secretariat and the Australian Council. for Educational Research (ACER) and EdTech Hub in its first phase, focusing on three critical areas:
(I) reinforce basic learning,
(ii) engage out-of-school children and marginalized groups, and
(iii) breaking gender barriers in digital skills and employment.
The recently launched ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships will help address the underrepresentation of women in STEM by supporting women’s access to education in the UK. The scholarships will support inspiring advocates in the STEM sector and promote role models for women in STEM with viable and recognizable STEM careers.
The ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships are open to women from all ten ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste, offering women a chance to transform their futures and become pioneers in STEM fields across the region. 11 successful applicants from ASEAN and Timor-Leste will receive a one-year, fully-funded opportunity to complete a master’s degree at the prestigious University of Warwick or Imperial College London. The opportunity is open to women from ten ASEAN member states, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam, as well as Timor-Leste.
ASEAN Secretary-General, HE Dr. Kao Kim Hourn said:
“ASEAN expresses pride in its partnership with the UK, as the ASEAN-UK SAGE program marks the start of strong cooperation, setting the tone for a fruitful dialogue partnership. The launch of the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships is a testament to our mutual dedication. ASEAN looks forward to the more positive outcomes that the ASEAN-UK SAGE program will produce, fostering enhanced collaboration and mutual benefits between the regions. ”
Ambassador of the UK Mission to ASEAN, HE Sarah Tiffin, said:
“The UK, as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, is committed to improving educational opportunities for women and girls in South East Asia, and we will do this through our flagship ASEAN-UK program WISE. Under the ASEAN-UK SAGE, in 2024, we are offering 11 scholarships for applicants from ASEAN member states, as well as Timor Leste. Our scholarships will provide life-changing opportunities for young women in the region, planting the seeds needed to empower and inspire future generations of women in STEM subjects. Our mission is simple: for women to have equal access to education, break gender barriers and norms, and promote brilliant future leaders. We thank our two world-renowned UK universities – Imperial College London and the University of Warwick – for their support of this effort.
Summer Xia, The British Council’s South East Asia director said:
“The British Council is proud to be one of the lead implementing partners of the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme. The Women in STEM scholarships address the underrepresentation of women in STEM leadership positions, and among the reasons for this underrepresentation are societal attitudes and perceptions regarding the role of women. Complementing the British Council’s Women in STEM scholarships, the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM scholarships also aim to challenge these norms, empower women, create role models and reinforce positive attitudes towards STEM education among women and girls.
Applications for ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships and British Council Women in STEM Scholarships are open until mid-April 2024, with both scholarships covering tuition fees, stipends, travel costs, visas and health cover costs.
For more information on the ASEAN – UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, please visit: https://www.britishcouncil.id/en/programmes/education/sage
For more information on British Council scholarships for women in STEM, please visit:
https://www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem
Hashtag: #BritishCouncil
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