Gender imbalance manifests itself virtually in all of our everyday engagements, with predominance in some areas and fields supposedly said to be exclusive for a particular gender, even at the expense of the other.

The gender disparity equation has been in the disfavour of the female, the woman or the girl child. The field of politics is so saturated with the male folks, relegating a whopping majority of females to tools for electoral entertainment with no blink of a change soon. The story is no different in other fields.

Women make up only 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and are vastly outnumbered by the men in most STEM fields in college. The gender gaps are particularly high in some of the fastest-growing and highest-paid jobs of the future, like computer science and engineering.

AFS STEM Scholarship Program 2022
AFS scholarship programs aim to expose and involve girls in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), thereby bridging the age-long gender gap.

This year’s scholarship program will provide an opportunity for girls from all around the world to explore their interests in STEM through a 12-week intensive virtual training.

The program will bring together a team of experts with varying team projects and presentations that will proffer possible solutions to real-world challenges, with a focus on climate change and energy transition. Scholars who complete the program will earn the Advanced Certificate on Global Competence for Social Impact, awarded by AFS and the University of Pennsylvania Center for Social Impact Strategy.

Scholarship Details
This program was organized to expose girls all around the world to the field of STEM, opening up more possibilities for women with the greater goal of reaching a sustainable future.

Scholarship winners will participate in an intensive 12-week all-virtual program focusing on emerging and critical STEM skills and fields, global competence education, and social impact (co-developed with the University of Pennsylvania). Scholars will improve their STEM knowledge and skills through an interactive, hands-on curriculum, while developing critical global competencies, including problem-solving, analytical skills, intercultural understanding, and the ability to build bridges across cultures.

Scholarship Requirements
To be considered for the IMES, one must:

1. Be 15-17.5 years old at the program start date
2. Ability to participate fully, both online and in a classroom setting, in a program conducted entirely in English.
3. Affirm interest in STEM, sustainability, and global competencies
4. Be curious and ready to interact with diverse global peers and explore new cultures
5. Have a working computer, smartphone, or other internet-enabled digital devices to access the virtual program content
6. Have an integrated webcam and microphone for participation in online dialogue sessions.
7. Have a stable internet or wifi connection.

Scholarship Duration and Reward
The 12-week interactive all-virtual Global STEM Accelerators program will run between June 23, 2022 – September 18, 2022.

Mode Of Application
Interested and eligible candidates can apply for the scholarship program by clicking on AFS 2022 STEM Scholarship to submit applications.