How can we support more women to pursue STEM careers in Egypt?
Over the last few years, the number of girls that pursued higher education studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Egypt has significantly increased, accounting for 48% of total graduates. However, this progress has not translated in women’s greater representation in STEM jobs, where they only represent 35% of professionals.
Key barriers to women’s participation in STEM
Two main issues prevent women from securing and retaining decent jobs in STEM fields and obtaining senior positions.
Especially in rural areas across Egypt, social norms and stigma hold girls back from pursuing their dreams and aspirations to enter STEM fields. Families tend to have a conservative mindset when it comes to women’s role in society. Girls, including university graduates, are not only pressured to stay at home and raise a family, but also face mobility challenges. STEM jobs tend to be concentrated in urban areas but access to safe and fast transport options is limited, which affects their career choices.
The general perception entrenched in society that women’s primary occupation should be to look after their families and homes leads many of them to make a difficult choice between domestic duties and professional aspirations. They often give up the latter and, after getting married, decide to stay at home or abandon STEM careers in favour of less time-intensive jobs.
This challenge is exacerbated by a work environment which is not favourable to women and characterised by poor gender policies, absence of facilities such as safe day-care, deplorable work ethics, gender biases and employers’ lack of flexibility. Because of these factors, employers, especially in the private sector, tend to hire more men than women.
Our approach to tackling gender barriers
The UK aid-funded Skills for Prosperity (S4P) programme in Egypt aims to create sustainable conditions for young women and marginalised youth to pursue higher education studies and careers in STEM .
To tackle social norms and dispel gender stereotypes, we are developing and supporting the delivery of online and offline gender awareness campaigns that target high school students, parents and education institutions.
To support young women’s transition into the labour market, we are also developing a mentorship programme and networks involving successful STEM female professionals that can act as role models.
Other initiatives that we are launching this year include developing career guidance knowledge tools, partnering with private sector companies to provide target groups with internships and on-the-job learning opportunities and organising STEM-focused career summits.
We recently sponsored Qualiphi Summit, an online career event that was attended by over 2,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students from Egypt’s universities. Over 150 national and international speakers, including from development and private sector partners such as Vodafone and Schneider Electric, ran the sessions. These introduced students to job profiles in their organisations and soft and technical skills required, with a focus on STEM, as well as career guidance. Through virtual career booths, the summit also highlighted and connected students with over 500 job opportunities from participating companies.
As the British Ambassador to Egypt Gareth Bayley notes, “Supporting women’s rights and ambitions is at the centre of UK foreign policy, whether ensuring all girls have access to 12 years of quality education, or fighting against female genital mutilation. As we mark the 2022 International Day of Women & Girls in Science, I’m proud to say that here in Egypt we’re supporting young women through our Skills for Prosperity programme, helping women in STEM subjects thrive by equipping them with the skills they need to support their transition to the labour market. Already Skills for Prosperity has been delivering targeted career guidance to young women, with the aim to support thousands of graduates over the programme’s lifespan. It’s support like this which will help women and girls achieve their potential, while contributing to the wider transformation of Egypt’s economy.”
