UNESCO International Symposium and Policy Forum. Cracking the code : girls' education in STEM
Girls and women face multiple challenges that compromise their education opportunities. One area of longstanding concern is the low rate of female participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and consequently STEM careers. This is a major concern, as STEM careers are often called ‘jobs of the future,’ driving social and personal well-being, inclusive growth and sustainable development, through innovation and creativity.
Why does this gender gap exist and how can it be addressed? The UNESCO International Symposium and Policy Forum, which took place 28-30 August 2017, served as a platform for debate and hands-on learning, seeking to:
- Present latest findings from research and practice
- Facilitate policy dialogue, experience-sharing and networking
- Make the case for strengthening girls’ education in STEM subjects
The programme was based on the overarching theme of girls’ education in STEM, with four sub-themes/tracks:
- Building the foundations: Gender-responsive quality STEM education
- Changing the equation: Addressing stereotypes and bias hindering girls’ participation
- Gravitating into the field: Reaching out, engaging and empowering girls and women
- Wiring the network: Partnerships, cross-sector learning and cooperation
This event brought together nearly 350 delegates from over 70 countries including: the Ministry of education and other officials; education practitioners and educators; researchers and experts; representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; development partners; civil society representatives; private sector stakeholders and others.
UNESCO launched its groundbreaking report, Cracking the Code: Girls’ and Women’s Education in STEM, which highlights the barriers stifling girls‘ and women’s engagement in and contributions to the STEM fields, as well as practical solutions on how these barriers can be overcome. For more on the report, please see our key findings, facts and figures, an infographic on the main findings, and a video outlining some of the key issues.
- Read the Symposium report to learn about the summary of the sessions and overall conclusions
To share more about what you’re doing to help girls crack the code, please engage in the UNESCO #GirlsCrackTheCode social media campaign, drawing on the following tools:
- Girls' Education in STEM: Women on the Frontlines of Change
(Part one of the #GirlsCrackTheCode social media campaign, highlighting successful women in STEM) - Organizations Doing Amazing Things to Advance Girls' Education in STEM
(Part two of the #GirlsCrackTheCode social media campaign, highlighting symposium delegates' initiatives) - Girls’ Education in STEM: The Facts
(Part three of the #GirlsCrackTheCode social media campaign, highlighting key facts from the report)
Videos
News
- 05.10.2017 - Stronger together: Plugging the leaks in the STEM development pipeline
- 03.10.2017 - WomEng in South Africa is cracking the code to get girls into engineering studies
- 19.09.2017 - Cracking the media: Zeinab Badawi on reshaping gender narratives about STEM
- 30.08.2017 - Education starts local: Barefoot College’s long journey to empower girls and women in their communities
- 01.09.2017 - ‘Cracking the code’ to end gender disparities in STEM
- 29.08.2017 - New UNESCO report sheds light on gender inequality in STEM education
- 28.08.2017 - Bangkok: A global call to advance STEM Education for Girls
- 28.08.2017 - ‘Cracking the code’ to end gender disparities in STEM: UNESCO Director-General opens global symposium
- 26.07.2017 - 2nd TeachHer Regional Training for Africa Launches in Kenya
- 07.06.2017 - Steering the debate on girls’ education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
- 11.05.2017 - Scientific Camp of Excellence for mentoring girls in science technology, engineering and mathematics in Kenya
- 27.03.2017 - Developing STEM education for girls in Vietnam
- 08.02.2017 - International Day of Women and Girls in Science: We need frameworks, not patchworks, to plug the leaky pipeline
- 06.02.2017 - Boost to girls' participation in science education in Ghana
- 08.11.2015 - Young women must be fully supported to take part in STEM education
- 17.08.2015 - Empowering African girls to be the next generation of STEM leaders
- 14.04.2015 - Strengthening STEM curricula for girls in Africa, Asia and the Pacific
Publications
- Report of the UNESCO International Symposium and Policy Forum, UNESCO, 2017
- Cracking the code: Girls’ and women’s education in STEM, UNESCO, 2017
- Closing the gender gap in STEM: drawing more girls and women into science, technology, engineering and mathematics, UNESCO Bangkok, 2016
- Sharing Malaysian experience in participation of girls in STEM education, UNESCO-IBE, 2016
- A Complex formula: girls and women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in Asia, UNESCO-Bangkok, 2015
- Is the gender gap narrowing in science and engineering?, in UNESCO science report: towards 2030, UNESCO, 2015
Partners
- CJ Group supports girls’ education in STEM at UNESCO International Symposium and Policy Forum
- The UNESCO-HNA Partnership for Girls’ and Women’s Education engages on girls’ education in STEM at UNESCO International Symposium and Policy Forum
Need more information?
Contact us at gender.ed@unesco.org