3rd Women in STEAM Summit: Transforming Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts/Agriculture, and Mathematics (STEAM) for Lifelong Learning
A more inclusive and innovative future led by women in STEAM has always been an aspiration that various institutions and communities have continuously pursued, aiming not just for the betterment of the present generation but also for the development of future ones. The 3rd Women in STEAM summit hosted by the UP National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development is a testament of the collective efforts made to empower women to make them feel heard, seen, and respected in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts/Agriculture, and Mathematics (STEAM).
The significance of creating a space for women and girls in STEAM was emphasized in the summit, as this matter is not only limited to the sake of the women and girls alone but it also concerns the society and its productivity as a whole. UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Gustavo Gonzalez reinforces this fact with his statement, “Empowering girls and young women in STEAM education is not just recognizing a fundamental human right. It is also recognizing that this is the most effective way of making society sustainable, because it is inclusive”. High priority and active engagement is placed by the UN in this gender equality agenda linked with the right to education—one of the most fundamental human rights—as they work in cooperation with United Nations International Labor Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). To further elucidate the importance of gender equality in this sector the following figures from various UN organizations were presented in relation to the challenge faced by women in STEAM:
- Globally, girls make up only 35% of STEAM students—in the Philippines, this figure is close to 50%
- By 2050, 75% of jobs will be related to STEAM areas
- At present, women are underrepresented in STEAM with women having only just 22% of positions in artificial intelligence, to just name one of them
- Women in the Philippines are 140% more likely to lose their job due to automation than men
Mr. Gustavo expressed that people can count on the full support of the UN in addressing these gender disparities, particularly since gender equality is at the heart of the development work of the UN and is contained in the new UN cooperation framework as one of its key elements. While on the subject of UN cooperation, Mr. Gustavo also invited the participants, especially the youth, in the Summit of the Future this September 2024 in New York, where the contributions of 193 countries are put into consideration as the United Nations examines present international cooperations.
In line with this, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue stresses that the gender gap is not only a social issue but an economic one as well. She highlighted three points that should be given significant attention, which are innovation, education, and inclusion. Although one of these can exist by itself, without the others, efforts in solving disparities in gender and in opportunities will not be fully achieved and completed. To serve as foundations that will support and strengthen the aforementioned points, she discussed the crucial role of policy, industry development, and international cooperation. Fortunately enough, the Philippines—albeit facing gender gap challenges in STEAM—has performed fairly in the digital policy sector, ranking 3rd after Malaysia and Singapore in the ITU ASEAN Digital Master Plan 2025 and placing first in the Stakeholder Engagement area as well as the Regional and International Cooperation area with 90% and 100% scores, respectively. To end her message, Undersecretary Atty. Jocelle also publicly announced in advance that the celebration of ITU’s Girls in ICT Day on April 25, 2024 will be held in the Philippines and hosted by DICT.
On the topic of lifelong learning and education in STEAM, Faculty of Education Dean Charisse Reyes of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU)—the pioneer and leading institution in online learning and teaching as well as in open and distance learning in the Philippines—tackled about how the heart of their programs is centered in contributing to the advancement of SDG 4, which is Quality Education. Using the Asia Pacific SDG 4 Education 2030 outcome targets and means of implementation, she enumerated the targets that are already working and functional in the educational institution. Meanwhile the following are those that they are still trying to gear towards:
- Target 4.4: Increase the Number of People with Relevant Skills for Financial Success
- Target 4.A: Build and Upgrade Inclusive and Safe Schools
- Target 4.C: Increase the Supply of Qualified Teachers in Developing Countries
Considering the rapid change in today’s globalized environment, the need to continuously adapt is addressed through the integration of 21st century skills or transferable skills (e.g. information literacy, ICT literacy, critical thinking, creativity, and innovation) by reforming the curricula. UPOU itself is also making gradual changes to the programs they offer to cater both the needs of their students and the goals of the UN in SDG 4. For Target 4.C, UPOU plans to add more postgraduate academic programs on top of their undergraduate and diploma offerings. This includes Master of Arts in Mathematics Education, Master of Arts in Science Education, as well as Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education.
Apart from these personal highlights of the event, there were also plenary sessions, fireside chats, and panel discussions that showed the many challenges that women face in the STEAM career. However, the women who stood in front of us and shared their experiences only prove that women too have the capabilities and talents to make a difference in these fields and in society in general.
Recognizing the presence of women in STEAM is one thing, but acknowledging them and providing them with the opportunities they deserve is another. While it is good and inspiring to hear positive stories from successful women, it is still crucial to focus on addressing systemic barriers and biases that prevent women from fully participating and thriving in these domains. At present, there are already numerous women making positive changes despite facing significant obstacles. How much more progress could be achieved if these barriers were eliminated altogether?
