AMARTHA’s Strategy to Increase Women’s Participation in STEAM Education

Women’s participation in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education in Indonesia still faces major challenges. Data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2024 shows that only 30 percent of women choose STEAM studies at the undergraduate level (Kompas, 2024). In addition, the National Labor Force and UNESCO survey in 2021 revealed that only 3 out of 10 researchers in Indonesia are women (Amartha, 2023). This gap is caused by various factors, such as gender bias, social stereotypes, and lack of access to training and mentorship in STEAM education.

To address this challenge, Amartha through Amartha Foundation launched the Amartha STEAM Fellowship. This program aims to increase women’s participation and competence in STEAM education through educational scholarships, training, and intensive mentoring for one year.

Amartha and Maxima collaboration: Improving Access to Women’s Education

As a partner that supports Amartha in realizing the program, Maxima Impact Consulting analyzes the goals, teaching methods, and values to be built. With a holistic approach, the Amartha STEAM Fellowship is designed to equip female students with the technical and leadership skills needed to compete in the STEAM industry.

Although women have great potential in STEAM education, Amartha found that women still face various obstacles, such as:

• Lack of confidence in pursuing a career in STEAM.
• Lack of an inclusive environment that often makes women feel unwelcome in the industry.
• Limited access to training, mentoring and professional networks.

Research from MIT in 2023 found that only 28 percent of women work in STEM fields. Meanwhile, research from Global Education Monitoring (GEM) in 2022 stated that the culture formed over hundreds of years is still a major factor that hinders women in the STEAM field (Kompas, 2024). Therefore, intervention programs that focus on improving skills and empowerment are urgently needed.

Amartha STEAM Fellowship: STEAM Education Opportunities for Women

As a concrete step in addressing this challenge, Amartha STEAM Fellowship provides scholarships as well as mentoring for Indonesian female students in STEAM education. This program includes:

• Bootcamp & Upscaling Class: Five days of intensive training to strengthen professional and personal skills.
• Mentoring: Guidance from experienced mentors in the STEAM industry.
• Internship & Social Project: Opportunities to apply knowledge in real projects and work experience.
• Career Coaching: Interview preparation and professional portfolio development.

The learning approach in the Amartha STEAM Fellowship Program is oriented towards the Student-Centered Learning approach, with methods such as:

• Facilitating: Small group learning with facilitator assistance.
• Training: Discussion-based sessions and case studies.
• Mentoring: Individual mentoring by mentors at the internship site.

As a partner in this program, Maxima Impact Consulting ensures the effectiveness of program implementation through data-driven strategies and rigorous evaluation. With experience in impact program management, Maxima ensures that each participant gets the maximum benefit from this fellowship.

The Amartha STEAM Fellowship program is a result of the impact initiative in providing opportunities for women in STEAM education. Your organization or company wants to support a similar initiative? Consult with Maxima Impact Consulting and find the right solution for you!