Three Malaysian women have secured prestigious Women in STEM scholarships, earning spots at top UK universities through the ASEAN-UK SAGE (Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education) Programme and the British Council Women in STEM Scholarships. These scholarships are designed to tackle gender imbalances in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Selected from a competitive pool of applicants across ASEAN and Timor Leste, the recipients will pursue master’s degrees in STEM areas where women are notably underrepresented. According to the World Economic Forum, women constitute only 29.2 percent of the global STEM workforce, despite nearly equal representation in other sectors.

The scholars include Charlene Ng, who will undertake an MSc in Computer Science at the University of Warwick with the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarship. Vilashini Saravanan and Nurul Sahira Sakinah Muhammad Ali have each received British Council Women in STEM Scholarships to study at the University of Bristol. Vilashini will specialize in Digital Health, while Nurul Sahira Sakinah will focus on Global Wildlife Health and Conservation.

UK Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Sarah Tiffin, expressed her enthusiasm about the programme, stating, “Their talent and dedication are inspirational, and we look forward to their contributions to STEM in ASEAN after their studies at the UK’s esteemed universities.”

Jazreel Goh, Director of British Council Malaysia, added, “These scholars will not only become leaders in their fields but also serve as role models for other women in Malaysia and beyond. Through this scholarship and our involvement in the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme, we aim to continue empowering women and fostering a positive attitude towards STEM education.”

The scholarship recipients will commence their studies in the UK in September 2024, with the next application cycle scheduled to open in January 2025.