Distinguished guests
UWS Board Members, Georgette
Corporate representatives
Students, and advocates for gender equality in STEM,
1. Good afternoon. It is my privilege to join you today at the launch event of UWS’s Research Study on bridging the gender gap for women in STEM.
2. As a leading tech and innovation hub, Singapore is well-placed to encourage more women to join the STEM fields. We have made good progress. A higher proportion of women are in STEM careers, with the proportion rising from 29% to 35% over the last decade.
3. These are encouraging numbers, but there is more work to be done. We all know that meritocracy is a key pillar, and this helps ensure social mobility in our society. However, in the practice of meritocracy, we must ensure that everyone, regardless of background, has access to full and equal opportunities.
Breaking Down Barriers
4. As you’ll see later, many young Singaporeans – and women in particular – still hesitate to enter or stay in STEM careers. There are worries about high-pressure work environments and a limited work-life balance, and this discourages promising youths from pursuing STEM careers. We must challenge these misperceptions through a combination of ground-up mindset shifts and top-down interventions that address not just pipeline issues, but also organisational culture, workplace discrimination, and leadership representation.
5. As the study shows, the role of male allies in shaping a more inclusive STEM workforce cannot be understated. Even as we practice meritocracy in Singapore, we must make space for those who have succeeded to help those who are still trying, and for those who are in a stronger and better position to help those who start off with less. This extends across race, culture and gender.
Government and Industry Commitment to Change
6. When it comes to STEM, the Government has taken decisive steps to empower both men and women. In workplaces in particular, we want to ensure that both genders are able to pursue their full potential and aspirations.
7. We passed the Workplace Fairness Bill in Parliament this year. Among other things, the Bill will prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sex, marital status, pregnancy, and caregiving responsibilities. This is because we know that it is important that we strengthen fair employment opportunities, and support both men and women to succeed and thrive in the workplace.
8. Now, beyond these policies, there are also targeted efforts to empower girls to join STEM fields, and uplift women in STEM specifically. Later in the research, you’ll see that there’s some feedback on that the secondary school years are extremely important. So, the education journey is a very important one.
9. We encourage all students, both boys and girls, in Singapore, to consider STEM courses and industries based on their strengths and interests. Our curriculum has also been enhanced to encourage exploration of various education and career pathways, and to address gender stereotypes.
10. Now, in the past 5 years, close to 40% of students studying STEM courses in our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) were girls.
11. And since 2019, the SG Women in Tech (SGWiT) initiative has connected over 115,000 girls in schools and IHLs with female tech leaders who can serve as their role models.
12. Our IHLs continue to raise awareness of the extensive range of STEM-related job opportunities and industries through career fairs and open houses.
13. There are also STEM scholarships and grants, such as the Singapore Digital Scholarship which supports undergraduate and postgraduate studies in STEM. And we also encourage more young women to pursue STEM education and research.
14. But apart from supporting students, we also need the help of industries. That’s an area that UWS has been working on together with their corporate partners, which we are very grateful for, because all these help to foster a culture of inclusion—leadership commitments, transparent hiring and promotion practices, and investment in mentorship and sponsorship programs for women in STEM.
15. At this point, I’d like to bring in the concept of male allyship, and that’s going to be quite a critical area for discussion later. When male allies actively support mentorship, equitable hiring practices and inclusive workplace policies, we co-create a STEM ecosystem where diverse perspectives fuel greater innovation as well as problem solving.
Conclusion: A Future We Build Together
16. So in Singapore, we have a lot to look forward to. Our position as a new tech hub will require a robust, diverse and dynamic STEM workplace, and this means that there are opportunities for everyone. When we empower women and foster male allyship, society benefits.
17. I hope today’s event inspires us to deepen our commitment to collective action. Let us work together to create a future where every woman can thrive in the STEM sector, and where every young girl who dreams of a STEM career finds encouragement and opportunity.
18. Thank you.