Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM) has been widening access to quality UK education for women in target subject areas and increasing the number of women in STEM.
THE Covid-19 pandemic has widened the global gender gap and it will now take some 136 years to close the divide, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap 2021 report.
Therefore, it is vital for universities to play a role in providing diverse and inclusive learning opportunities and encourage young women to join the workforce such as in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
Heriot-Watt University (HWU) has been promoting inclusivity and diversity since 1869 when Mary Burton became the first woman on Heriot-Watt University's board of directors who started a lifelong campaign for women to attend university.
Since then, HWU has inspired generations of female pioneers to follow in Burton’s footsteps – from the first woman to graduate with a computer science degree in 1966 to now addressing the under-representation of women in computer science across all campuses.
On the local front, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM) has been widening access to quality UK education for women in target subject areas and increasing the number of women in STEM.
For instance, HWUM’s School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences (MACS) has almost 50% female students and counting.
“We continue to advocate STEM to our female students. STEM is no longer a male-dominated field, today, we see many women scientists and engineers of calibre who are visionary women leaders impacting the lives of many,” said HWUM chair of board of directors Datuk Yasmin Mahmood.
HWUM provost and chief executive officer Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi said: “Having enough women in STEM is imperative if we are to create a sustainable, just, and enjoyable world. It is our duty to nurture purpose-driven women leaders through positive education; women who will go on to play an important role in building and shaping tomorrow’s modern world.”
“Through our EmPOWER Programme, we are developing highly employable graduates who are emotionally intelligent, confident, innovative, and effective team players to satisfy the requirements of the ever-changing job market,” Professor Mushtak added.
HWUM is committed to increasing the percentage of female students’ participation in STEM areas through its many initiatives including the Women in science and engineering (Wise) scholarship.
WISE offers full or partial scholarships that are contingent upon an interview with university staff for those enrolling to either foundation or science and engineering-related undergraduate level programmes.
Its accredited programmes are developed based on the needs of business and industry and are carefully tuned to the needs of the fourth industrial revolution and its graduates, which ensures career-relevant education and an environment to foster purpose-driven leaders who can positively impact communities.
Eligible programmes include undergraduate programmes in STEM, Foundation in Science and Foundation in Business should the students have the intention to pursue any of the undergraduate programmes below:
> Actuarial Science
> Statistical Data Science
> Computing Science
> Civil Engineering
> Construction Project Management
> Quantity Surveying
> Chemical Engineering
> Electrical and Electronic Engineering
> Mechanical Engineering
> Psychology
> Psychology with Management
> Accounting and Business Finance
> International Business Management
> Business Administration
> Business Strategy, Leadership and Change
> Strategic Project Management
For more information on HWUM, visit its official website here.
