APEC

One of the key objectives of APEC, as outlined in the APEC Education Strategy 2016–2030, is to promote greater participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This project supports that goal aligning with initiatives such as the 2023 APEC-Australia Women in Research Fellowship, delivered by the Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG), which empowers women in STEM to enhance their capabilities while also contributing to the sustainable development of their communities. Regarding the Putrajaya Vision 2040, the project addresses the third economic driver: Strong, Balanced, Secure, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, by equipping women with the skills and knowledge to promote their participation in STEM areas, in line with “we will intensify human resource development as well as economic and technical cooperation to better equip our people with the skills and knowledge for the future”.

According with the Aotearoa Plan of Action (APA), the project is in line with the collective actions of the economies for Advancing Economic, Financial, and Social Inclusion to enhance economic inclusion for all, particularly by: i) advancing gender equality and the economic empowerment of women, particularly through accelerating the full implementation of the actions in the La Serena Roadmap for Women and Inclusive Growth and building on them; ii) promoting economic and technical cooperation to enhance capacity building and inclusive economic participation; and iii) sharing experiences and best practice to promote inclusiveness and quality of life.

In 2024, APEC Leaders acknowledged the convening of the 2024 APEC Women and the Economy Statement recognizing that women’s active participation in the STEM fields can contribute to inclusive economic growth, underlining the importance of including more women and girls in STEM related education programs and careers. Also the Joint Statement of APEC Ministers Responsible for Women and Ministers Responsible for Trade agreed on increasing efforts and actions to reduce barriers and provide opportunities so that more women can participate in STEM fields and careers, thereby increasing the participation of women in the high-tech and digital services sectors. The 2024 APEC Leaders Machu Picchu Declaration acknowledges the significant contribution of women in driving innovations and growth across a wide spectrum of economic fields, including STEM fields, noticing the importance of empowering those facing structural barriers to achieve their economic potential. With that, leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to accelerate the full implementation of the La Serena Roadmap for Women and Inclusive Growth and to achieving gender equality and advancing women’s economic empowerment in the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition, this project is strongly aligned with the priorities set by Korea for APEC 2025. In particular, it contributes to the “Connect” pillar by fostering exchanges among professional women and students in STEM, promoting knowledge mobility and the development of mentorship networks, which are key elements of people-to-people connectivity. Under the “Innovate” pillar, the project addresses the digital divide by preparing mentors with the skills to promote more women in STEM areas in where are also included emerging key areas such as artificial intelligence and robotics. At last, under the “Prosper” pillar, it enhances women’s economic participation in high-growth sectors, supporting their inclusion and enhancing their participation and leadership in sustainable development and innovation.

Finally, by fostering assertive and well-prepared mentors, this project promotes a multiplier effect, being also aligned to the “APEC Women in STEM Principles and Actions” document, creating an enabling environment for more women and girls to pursue and persist in STEM pathways. This approach responds to the three established principles in that document 1. Women in STEM are critical to sustainable Economic Growth and Robust Science and Technology; 2. Increased representation of Women in STEM matters; and, 3. Overcoming Social, Cultural, and Economic Barriers Women in STEM face is important. In that line, the project addresses not only to the current underrepresentation of women in these fields but also to the projected growth in demand for STEM skills in the global labor market.

Forum

The project supports the PPWE Strategic Plan 2019-2021, particularly Objective 2: Advance women’s economic participation through five priority pillars. Specifically, it aligns with Pillar 3: Skills, capacity building, and health, which seeks to ensure that women are equipped with the skills and capabilities necessary to succeed in the workforce, business, and entrepreneurship. By designing and validating this Guide for the training of professional women working in STEM fields and women undergraduate students currently pursuing STEM degrees as mentors, the project directly contributes to strengthening their technical, personal, and leadership capacities by providing tools for effective mentorship. These tools increase the likelihood of more women pursuing STEM-related studies, supporting also recent graduates in their access to and retention in non-traditional, high-growth sectors such as science and technology.

Additionally, the project aligns with Pillar 5: Innovation and Technology, by supporting women’s access to, participation in, and benefit from the digital economy. It prepares future mentors to not only guide others but also to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the digital era, including the impacts of artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation. The initiative is also closely aligned with the La Serena Roadmap for Women and Inclusive Growth (2019–2030), which sets out a clear vision for ensuring that women fully and equally participate in the economy. The project contributes directly to Key Action Area D: “Support women’s education, training and skills development and access in a changing world of work”, by addressing the structural and social barriers that limit women’s access to and retention in STEM education and careers. These barriers include social stereotypes, lack of mentors and role models, and unequal access to training and professional development opportunities—issues the Guide seeks to mitigate. Moreover, the La Serena Roadmap outlines four regional targets, two of which are particularly relevant to this initiative: 1. Increasing the region’s gender equality among STEM graduates in tertiary education, and 2. Enhancing women’s representation in research and R&D positions. Finally, the project is also closely aligned to the APEC Gender Equality Structural Reform Voluntary Principles and Recommendations to Advance Women’s Economic Empowerment, endorsed by the Economic Committee and PPWE, addressing principles such as the countering of stereotypes in education, training and skills development, and bringing access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities, including in STEM fields, emerging industries and sectors most impacted by innovation, digital and sustainability transitions.