UK Launches Scholarships to Empower Women in STEM Across ASEAN

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - The UK has announced the inaugural recipients of the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, part of the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (SAGE) Programme. This initiative, launched earlier this year, aims to tackle gender disparities in STEM education and careers within ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste. Following a competitive selection process, ten exceptional women have been awarded fully funded scholarships to pursue master’s degrees at the University of Warwick and Imperial College London. The SAGE Programme is the UK’s flagship educational initiative in the ASEAN region, focusing on enhancing foundational learning in literacy and numeracy while promoting access to education for girls and marginalized groups. The scholarships are designed to empower young women, encouraging them to become role models and leaders in STEM fields. The British Council, in collaboration with the UK Government, has developed the scholarships to support these goals. Summer Xia, Director for Southeast Asia at the British Council, emphasized the importance of this scholarship program in promoting gender equality and female empowerment in STEM. The initiative aligns with broader objectives outlined in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those focused on education and reducing inequalities. The ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, is a five-year initiative running from 2023 to 2028, with a budget of up to GBP 30 million. It aims to improve educational outcomes for women, girls, and marginalized communities across the region.