International Women’s Day 2024 Roundtable Discussion: Increased Investment in STEM Education – Prosperity of Women

From Left to Right: GSM Jafarullah, NDC, Managing Director, Office of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority; Honourable State Minister Simeen Hussain (Rimi), Ministry of Women and Children Affairs; Professor Dr. Sitesh, Pro Vice Chancellor, Dhaka University; Prof. Rayhana Taslim, Project Director, Ministry of Education; Dr. Mahmuda Naznin, Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, BUET; Sadia Haque, Chief Executive Officer, ShareTrip; Farhana Islam, Deputy Director & Head of Social Impact, Grameenphone; Anita Ghazi Rahman, Founder & Managing Partner, The Legal Circle; Nahid Sharmin, Gender Analyst, a2i; Bijon Islam, CEO, LightCastle Partners

On March 6th, 2024, a2i, supported by the ICT Division, organized a Roundtable Discussion dedicated to promoting gender equality in STEM fields across Bangladesh. Held at the ICT Tower, Agargaon, Dhaka, the event sought to address disparities in STEM education and employment for Bangladeshi women. Notably, the event featured esteemed female leaders from various professions, serving as sources of inspiration and advocating for increased opportunities for women throughout Bangladesh.

The roundtable event featured respected leaders from various sectors including government, academia, research institutions, development institutions, and private corporations. Notable speakers included:

• Honourable State Minister Simeen Hussain (Rimi), Ministry of Women and Children Affairs
• GSM Jafarullah, NDC, Managing Director, Office of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority
• Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan (Joint Secretary), Project Director, Aspire to Innovate (a2i), ICT Division
• Mushfiqua Zaman Satiar,  Senior Policy Advisor, The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
• Dr. Firdausi Qadri, Senior Director, Infectious Diseases Division – ICDDR,B
• Prof. Rayhana Taslim, Project Director, Ministry of Education 
• Sharmin Islam, Gender Team Lead, UNDP
• Professor Dr. Sitesh, Pro Vice Chancellor, Dhaka University
• Farhana Islam, Deputy Director & Head of Social Impact, Grameenphone
• Anita Ghazi Rahman, Founder & Managing Partner, The Legal Circle
• Sadia Haque, Chief Executive Officer, ShareTrip
• Dr. Mahmuda Naznin, Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, BUET
• Dr. Lafifa Jamal, Professor, Department of Robotics & Mechatronics Engineering, Dhaka University
• Prof. Sabrina Marium Elias, Assistant Professor, IUB

The session began with Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Joint Secretary, Project Director, Aspire to Innovate (a2i), ICT Division, who emphasized the need for increased female representation in STEM, as the country gears towards accomplishing a “Smart Bangladesh”. Addressing the prevalent misconception about women’s capabilities in STEM subjects, he stressed the importance of providing robust support systems to encourage and empower women’s active participation in STEM disciplines.

Mushfiqua Zaman Satiar,  Senior Policy Advisor to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, emphasized the pivotal role of economic independence for women in STEM and advocated for strategic policy measures to both support and strengthen their involvement. She further highlighted the significance of comprehensive support systems to empower women in STEM.

During the roundtable discussion moderated by Meenara Khondker, Business Consultant from LightCastle Partners, participants were asked questions about their specific expertise, and in response, they offered valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities surrounding gender inclusivity in STEM education and employment.

Dr. Lafifa Jamal, Professor, Department of Robotics & Mechatronics Engineering, Dhaka University shared statistics from a study done at Dhaka University, indicating a significant increase in female enrollment in STEM fields. However, she simultaneously emphasized the need for interventions to encourage participation among minorities such as rural women, and more importantly, address the social stigmas associated with their low participation. 

Dr. Mahmuda Naznin, Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, BUET, discussed the lack of initiatives specifically targeting women in STEM and emphasized how financial aid such as scholarships and research funding is fundamental in terms of increasing female enrollment in STEM courses.

Sadia Haque, Chief Executive Officer, ShareTrip, shared her own experiences and obstacles as a female corporate professional prior to founding ShareTrip, highlighting the equitable policies she implements to empower its female employees. She discussed challenges women face in the workforce and emphasized the need for policy interventions at a national level, and education initiatives to support women in STEM careers.

Scientist, Dr. Firdausi Qadri, Senior Director, Infectious Diseases Division – ICDDR,B, emphasized the necessity of taking action to support women in STEM by highlighting the crucial need for reliable childcare facilities in enabling women’s workforce participation. She added that although Bangladesh’s education system may not be as advanced as that of developed countries, numerous talented individuals, including both men and women, come from villages with aspirations to pursue careers in fields such as medicine, engineering, and science. To maintain a vast talent pool, she stressed the importance of fostering a culture where their optimism is encouraged and nurtured. 

Dr. Qadri also expressed the need for progress and innovation in STEM for societal advancement and the necessity of incorporating women’s perspectives in this journey. She pointed out that women contribute enthusiasm and unique ideas, advocating for their increased representation in senior leadership roles. 

Women hold only 25 out of 100 senior leadership positions, contrasting starkly with sectors like healthcare and midwifery, where over 70% of such roles are filled by women. Dr. Qadri stressed the need for support in advancing women’s representation in senior management to drive progress.

Sharmin Islam stressed the importance of early investment in girls’ education, combating gender biases in the job market, and providing inspiring role models in STEM. She highlighted three investment areas: improving STEM education with engaging content for young children, exploring innovative teaching methods, and addressing the gap between the demand and supply of STEM jobs for women. 

Farhana Islam, Deputy Director and Head of Social Impact, Grameenphone emphasized her commitment to fostering collaborations between industry and academia, highlighting the significance of interventions at the policy level and educational initiatives.

Anita Ghazi Rahman, Founder & Managing Partner of The Legal Circle, stressed the need to prioritize equal pay and opportunities for women, advocating for policies mandating consideration of women for managerial roles and creating safe environments.  

In conclusion, the roundtable brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to engage in conversations and come up with actionable measures to advance gender equality. Some of the key takeaways are: 

• Encouraging girls to pursue STEM fields can be difficult in particular regions in Bangladesh, especially in the rural areas. Gender stereotypes and societal bias often act as barriers for women who want to pursue a career in STEM. Addressing these biases early on, particularly at the primary and secondary education levels, is essential to instill confidence and encourage female students to explore STEM opportunities.
  
• Setting up alumni networks can help promote gender diversity in STEM education by advocating for inclusive practices. While there has been an increase in female enrollment in STEM fields, attention must be directed towards facilitating rural women’s access to college-level STEM programs. Participants underscored the need for tailored initiatives, scholarships, and research funding to support women in STEM.

• Empowering women through investment in an equitable environment is key to fostering their success. Establishing safe daycares is pivotal in enabling more women to enter the workforce, thereby enhancing their economic independence. Policies aimed at supporting women in STEM should encompass investments in education, provision of job opportunities, and recognition of role models who challenge stereotypes.

• Establishing a nurturing work environment for women necessitates coordinated actions at the policy, educational, and grassroots levels. Participants underscored the importance of achieving gender diversity in the workforce through fair pay and the removal of barriers for women. Ongoing efforts, particularly in the tech industry, prioritize increasing the representation of women, emphasizing the need for comprehensive policies and educational initiatives.

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SheSTEM is a collaborative initiative supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, aimed at bridging the gender gap in STEM education and employment in Bangladesh. SheSTEM empowers women to pursue and excel in STEM careers through strategic partnerships and innovative interventions, driving socio-economic development and inclusive growth.

The consortium partners for the SheSTEM initiative are 10 Minute School,  a2i – Aspire to Innovate, DevLearn, LightCastle Partners and, Policy Exchange Bangladesh.

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