The UK Government Launches ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships
The UK government, in collaboration with the ASEAN secretariat, launched the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships in conjunction with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This initiative aims to address gender disparities in STEM education and employment within ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste, which enjoys observer status within the caucus.
While girls outperform boys in mathematics and science in primary and secondary education across ASEAN countries, a gender gap starts to appear in tertiary STEM education, with only 19.3% of women obtaining STEM degrees compared to 39.8% of men.[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”block” ihc_mb_who=”unreg” ihc_mb_template=”3″ ]
The 2022 UN progress report on SDG 5 – Gender Equality – reveals that only 20% of jobs in STEM are held by women globally, and various studies highlight disparities in publication, pay, and career progression for women in STEM. Recognising the importance of these issues, the UK, through the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education Programme (ASEAN-UK SAGE), seeks to address gender disparities in STEM by providing more access to STEM education for women and girls in ASEAN and Timor-Leste.
Emerging from the UK’s official Dialogue Partner status with ASEAN in 2021, ASEAN-UK SAGE is a pioneer initiative under the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action 2022-2026. Launched in 2023, ASEAN-UK SAGE is funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), with a commitment of up to GBP 30 million through 2028.
The programme is implemented by the British Council, SEAMEO Secretariat, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), and EdTech Hub in its first phase, with a focus on three critical areas: (i) strengthening foundational learning, (ii) engaging out-of-school children and marginalised groups, and (iii) breaking gender barriers to digital skills and employment.
The newly launched ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM scholarships will contribute to addressing the underrepresentation of women in STEM by supporting access to UK education for women. The scholarships will support inspirational advocates in the STEM sector and promote role models for Women in STEM with viable, recognisable STEM careers. ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships are open to women from across all ten ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste, offering women a chance to transform their future and become pioneers in STEM fields across the region.
Eleven successful applicants from ASEAN and Timor-Leste will receive a fully funded one-year opportunity to complete a master’s degree at the prestigious University of Warwick or Imperial College London. The opportunity is open to women from the ten ASEAN Member States, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam, as well as Timor-Leste.
Ailsa Terry CMG, British High Commissioner to Malaysia, said: “The UK government, in collaboration with the British Council Malaysia, is committed to enhancing educational opportunities for women and girls in Southeast Asia. I am pleased to see that the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme will provide young women in the region, including Malaysia, transformative opportunities to pursue STEM subjects. This is part of our modern education partnership, as well as supporting Malaysia as it takes on the ASEAN presidency in 2025.”
Jazreel Goh, Director of British Council Malaysia, said: “We are honoured to be the lead in driving this partnership for the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme. Complementing the British Council Women in STEM Scholarships, ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships also aim to empower women, create role models, and reinforce a positive attitude towards STEM education among women and girls. By championing inclusivity, we are not just shaping the future of STEM industries; we are building a more equitable and diverse world.”
Applications for the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships and the British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM are open until mid-April 2024, with both scholarships covering tuition fees, stipends, travel costs, visas, and health coverage fees.
For more information on the British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM, please visit: https://www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem
For further information on the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, please contact: roshini.paramaraj@britishcouncil.org, Panisara.Paireepinath@britishcouncil.org, or UniPrayuti.Prayuti@britishcouncil.org
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