Overview
- UNESCO's latest Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report highlights a decade-long stagnation, with women comprising only 35% of global STEM graduates from 2018 to 2023.
- Workforce representation is even lower, with women accounting for just 26% of data/AI employees, 15% in engineering, and 12% in cloud computing roles globally.
- Key barriers include early math confidence issues, entrenched gender stereotypes, and male-dominated digital transformation efforts, according to the report.
- The GEM advocacy brief recommends gender-responsive reforms such as school counselling, teacher training, and mentorship programs to support girls in STEM pathways.
- India leads with a record 40% female STEM enrollment but continues to face challenges like cultural biases and pipeline leakage despite initiatives like Vigyan Jyoti and GATI.