Empowering Women: MIMP’s Recognition of STEM’s Transformative Potential
Peru’s Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations aims to encourage more adolescents to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
In Peru, only 38% of university degrees in STEM careers were awarded to women during 2021, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
To reverse this reality and promote greater interest among teenage girls in these professions, the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP) organized the forum Promoting the Economic Empowerment of Women in STEM Careers, attended by more than 200 high school students and university and technical career students.
The meeting was held as part of the activities scheduled within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2024 Forum. It seeks to promote quality economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region through various initiatives that promote economic integration and trade, while also addressing sustainability and social equality.
“We recognize the transformative potential of women in the STEM field. Their talent, creativity, and problem-solving skills are assets that we cannot afford to miss out on. By empowering women in STEM careers, we not only promote equality of opportunity but also drive innovation, competitiveness, and inclusive growth in our societies,” said Minister Hernández Cajo.
The meeting is part of the preliminary activities leading up to the Women and the Economy Forum, which will be organized and led by MIMP in May in Arequipa, as part of APEC 2024.
STEM in PERU
According to the OECD study, 62% of university degrees in STEM careers in Peru were awarded to men, compared to 38% to women. That is, there is a 24% gap that is expected to be closed. Meanwhile, the gap in master’s and doctoral degrees was 26% and 30%, respectively.
Likewise, in 8 out of the 10 selected STEM career groups, the enrollment rate was predominantly male in universities licensed by SUNEDU in 2022. Of the total enrolled in programs related to electronics and automation, only 7% were women. Therefore, the gap is 86% in favor of men.
This trend persists in programs related to systems and computing, physics, mathematics, construction and civil engineering, statistics, chemistry, and economics. However, in programs related to medicine, 60% of all enrolled students were women, resulting in a 20% gap in favor of women. This same trend is repeated in biology programs, with a 10% gap.
In Chemistry-related careers, the enrollment rate of women exceeded that of men in only 3 out of the 10 departments offering these programs. Thus, in Junín the rate was 51%, Arequipa, with 52%, and Tacna, with 53%.
STEM in the region
In the region, 43% of workers with salaries in STEM professions in the public and private sectors of Peru were women in 2022. There was a 14% gap in favor of men, who have a participation rate of 57%. Meanwhile, in Mexico, only 33% of workers with salaries in STEM professions were women, compared to 68% of male workers.
On the other hand, other APEC economies such as Thailand and the Philippines recorded gaps of 12% and 4%, respectively. While Singapore had a 34% gap in favor of men in the rate of workers with salaries in STEM professions in the public and private sectors. In contrast, the United States recorded a percentage of women with higher salaries than men, resulting in a 4% gap in favor of women.
“Since 2021, MIMP has been part of the ‘Alliance for more Women and Girls in Science,’ with the aim of closing these gaps, and we developed this initiative with CONCYTEC, the Embassy of the United Kingdom, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima, the British Council, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Peruvian British Cultural Association, and L’Oréal,” emphasized the head of MIMP.
Ambassadors and representatives from some of the 21 APEC economies, as well as experts in the field, participated in this important meeting, which served as a prelude to the Women and Economy Forum APEC 2024, to be held next May in the city of Arequipa with the participation of the Women Ministers of the 21 Asia-Pacific member economies.
To learn more visit:
MIMP busca que más adolescentes opten por carreras de ciencia…
Soledad Quartucci | CEO/Founder, Latina Republic
Latina Republic is dedicated to promoting regional understanding through compelling narratives, articles, interviews, and reports that emanate from the heart of the Americas. Our foremost goal is to facilitate constructive dialogue by illuminating local viewpoints frequently overshadowed by mainstream media. Our mission is to equip all stakeholders with essential insights for addressing regional issues, thus empowering them in their efforts. We are committed to portraying the victories and hardships of everyday life in Latin America, while also chronicling the progression of social movements and amplifying the voices of those at the forefront of change.