Date: October 27, 2023

Time: 9:00-18:00 

Location: Kyrgyz State Technical University (St. Ch.Aitmatov 66, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)

The United Nations Development Programme, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic and the STEM4ALL community, is organizing a full-day event dedicated to STEM. The event aims to prepare the young generation to enter the job market with the most in-demand skills based on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).  The event will be held on October 27, 2023 from 9:00 to 18:00 at the Kyrgyz State Technical University (66 Ch. Aitmatov Avenue, Bishkek).

Registration link (free access): https://forms.gle/tFbGaTbPKp62mwU99. 

Details about the event are available on the official STEM4ALL website.

The World Economic Forum predicts that more than 90% of future jobs will require digital skills firmly rooted in STEM. Emerging occupations such as data analysts, artificial intelligence and machine learning specialists, and big data specialists are becoming increasingly important to economic growth and everyday life. These new occupations continue to be male-dominated. This disparity is alarming given that 180 million jobs, mostly held by women, are expected to be automated over the next 20 years. To remain competitive in the job market, they will need to retrain and upgrade their skills with the help of the Internet and technology. 

However, in Kyrgyzstan only one-third of women actively use the Internet and are computer literate. The proportion of women with higher education in STEM fields is 31.3%. This is clearly insufficient for women's active participation in digital transformation processes. UNDP advocates for gender equality in digital transformation and has developed a “Gender Equality in Digitalization Strategy” with recommendations to increase women's participation in STEM and innovation development. Increased STEM employment will lead to higher wages and productivity, which in turn can help reduce the gender pay gap. 

The event program includes a number of activities presented in two main sessions:

MORNING SESSION: STEM Conference (9:00 - 12:30):

• Presentation of the UNDP report on "Needs Assessment of STEM Women in Kyrgyzstan".
• Launch of “Mentoring Her”, a digital platform facilitating mentoring and networking among women in STEM.
• Panel sessions on the Supply vs. Demand of STEM talent.

AFTERNOON SESSION: STEM Fair (13:00 - 18:00):

• STEM Fair for students, teachers, parents, and young professionals.
• “Fature Talks” on the emerging professions fields such as IT, education, biomedicine, green technology and others.
• Master classes in IT, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and other STEM fields.
• Informal networking.

This event is a unique opportunity for students, professionals, companies, and civil society organizations to discuss and promote gender equality in STEM fields and to learn about the latest trends and opportunities in technology, science, and innovation.

The goal of the #STEM4ALL initiative is to promote gender equality in the digital transformation and ensure equal participation of men and women in technology, science and innovation, in order to excel in the future of work. 

****

STEM4ALL is a UNDP and UNICEF platform to accelerate progress towards gender equality and increase the representation of women and girls in STEM to meet the workforce needs of tomorrow in Europe and Central Asia. STEM4ALL is designed for a wide audience, from women and girls to policy makers and private sector representatives. It is a virtual, public forum for public education, research and news promoting gender equality and inclusion in STEM in the region and beyond.

Closing the gender gap in STEM education and careers is essential to achieving gender equality and creating infrastructure solutions and services that benefit people around the world. Today's world is in urgent need of scientific and technological solutions. To do this, we need half of the world's talent. We need women and girls.

****

UNDP is the United Nations' global development network, an organization that promotes change and connects countries with knowledge, experience and resources to help people build better lives. We are on the ground in some 170 countries and territories, working with them to find solutions to global and national development challenges. As they build local capacity, they draw on UNDP staff and our wide range of partners.

Partnership Contact:

Jenny Jenish kyzy (Ensi Tszie), Head of Experimentation of UNDP Accelerator Lab, ensi.tszie@undp.org; Acclab.kg@undp.org 

Media Contact:

Ainagul Abdrakhmanova, UNDP Communications Manager - ainagul.abdrakhmanova@undp.org