OVERVIEW
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics-STEM, play an important role in any economy of the world, as it pervades every part of a Nation’s existence and drives their sustained growth and stability. In this present age where scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important, owing to the benefits and challenges of globalization and a knowledge-based economy, it has become pertinent that every Nation that aims to compete in the global economy makes STEM education and careers a national priority.
Despite these compelling facts, Emerging Economies still lag behind in terms of developing a sustainable and an inclusive STEM education & career development. It is a known fact that approximately 3.5 million jobs will need to be filled by 2025 in the United States alone. Most especially, there is a wide gap between the male and female gender, with the latter occupying less than 25% of STEM jobs. According to an EU report, the negative perception of STEM occupations (especially for women) has resulted in insufficient numbers of STEM graduates. However, addressing the absence of women in STEM requires tackling many critical barriers, including limited development opportunities, too few high-level female role models, and lack of support from peers.
Therefore, in light of the above, the Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD) has designed the Emerging Economies Women in STEM Program, aimed at further harnessing women capital towards scaling up the growth of these regions to earnestly advance on their journey to competing favourably with their developed counterparts in the global economic space through the E-WI STEM.
OBJECTIVES
The Emerging Economies Women in STEM program supports the need to address the gaps identified by the UN gender inequality index (GII), which indicates that the higher the GII value the more disparities between females and males and the more loss to human development. Therefore, four major objectives underpin E-WISTEM programs, as follows:
- To increase the number of women in STEM, thereby contributing to addressing gender inequality and skills shortages in STEM disciplines for the sustainable growth of developing nations.
- To highlight the giant strides of the few women in STEM across emerging economies
- To promote education in STEM for all women and girls
- To build a network of women in STEM across emerging economies in order to:
- Inspire the next generation of women who aspire to build a career in any of the STEM fields.
- Connect girls from STEM programs across the regions to women in the network for mentoring, apprenticeship & career counselling in order to spark up their passion towards any of the STEM fields.
- Serve as a pool of resources channelled towards promoting innovations in the regions.
In order to fulfil the objectives of E-WISTEM series, the following programs have been planned as follows:
| TITLE | DESCRIPTION |
| Amazons Watch Magazine Cover Focus
|
The Amazons Watch Magazine, through its New Women in STEM segment, will cover the activities of Women in the different aspect of STEM as well as sterling innovations in Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields that has the potential of transforming the lives of women and addressing important challenges in developing nations.
Also, the 4th quarter’s edition will have an exclusive coverage of Women in STEM as the Cover Focus. |
| Emerging Economies Women in STEM video series
|
This is a short video series featuring leading Women in STEM across emerging economies to be promoted on all key National and global media platforms.
|
| Women IN STEM Mentoring Program
|
This program will leverage on the Women in Stem Network to connect and place young girls in existing STEM programs from emerging economies for mentoring, apprenticeship and guidance over an agreed period.
|
| Bespoke Training Workshops | This is a year round bespoke training workshop, leveraging on the Women in Stem network, and organized for girls in developing Nations, who are enrolled in existing STEM programs/institutes. The aim is to develop their capabilities in STEM beyond age-long acceptable levels as well as give them opportunities to explore STEM-related concepts as they relate to real life scenarios to possibly trigger their passion to build a career in any of the fields.
|
| Emerging Economies WISTEM Forum
|
This is a premier forum designed to bring together a full suite of Women in STEM from academics, governments, corporations, non-profits and social impact funders in both developed and developing Nations. The goal is to share and discuss best practices, trends, opportunities and future of women in STEM as well as harness women capital towards positioning emerging economies to compete favourably in the global economic space. This forum will also feature a showcase of sterling innovations in Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields with the potential of transforming the lives of women and addressing important challenges in developing nations.
|
PARTICIPATION & SPONSORSHIP
For participation and sponsorship of any aspect of this premier series, please contact the Executive Director of Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD) on +234 8039095696 or by email on furo.giami@celd.org.uk