Uzbekistan: girls awarded STEM grants

A grant awarding ceremony was held in Tashkent within the framework of the project "Profession does not allow discrimination on the basis of gender". The initiative aims to increase women's participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as in related business areas. Today, the proportion of women in these areas remains low, and education and access to new opportunities are becoming key tools for change.

The project is being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Digital Technologies, international financial and humanitarian organizations, as well as leading universities in the country. It involves the American University of Technology( AUT), IT Park University, TEAM University, and Amity University. During the ceremony, it was emphasized that combining the efforts of the state, business and educational structures contributes to the formation of a favorable ecosystem for girls choosing a career in innovative fields.

Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov noted that women's empowerment is a priority of state policy. In recent years, conditions have been created to unlock potential, including State funding for women's contract training in master's programs. According to him, the annual growth in the number of female students confirms the effectiveness of the measures taken. In continuation of this work, TBC Bank provided grants to seven girls this year, which should encourage other organizations to become more involved in supporting women's education and career development.

The event was accompanied by lectures by representatives of science, business and international organizations, where success stories and examples of overcoming barriers were presented. In the Girls x Talk format, students and young researchers shared their personal experiences and approaches to building a professional path in areas where women are still underrepresented.

As a result of the ceremony, seven students received grants and the opportunity to study at partner universities of the project, which opens up new prospects for their professional growth and strengthens the position of women in STEM industries.