Commissioner for Gender Equality, Josie Christodoulou, highlighted the need for educational changes in the context of promoting women's participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related fields.

The Commissioner made the above remark at the 1st Women in Mathematical Sciences (WMSC) Workshop which was held at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics in Nicosia. The Commissioner acknowledged that the gender gap in STEM-related fields is significant in Cyprus and revealed that the government is taking steps to address the issue through various initiatives.

In her speech, Ms. Christodoulou cited statistics from the European Institute of Gender Equality, which indicated that only 4% of women work in STEM related jobs compared to 27% of men in Europe. Furthermore, she noted that the proportion of women and men working in STEM professions in Cyprus is among the lowest in the EU.

To focus on these issues, the government has identified existing gaps and as a consequence, Ms. Christodoulou announced that her office, in cooperation with the Cyprus State Scholarships Foundation, will introduce ten undergraduate scholarships aimed at women aged 30+ who did not have the opportunity to study earlier. These scholarships will be awarded to women who wish to study in the field of innovation and technology.

Moreover, the Commissioner announced that her office, in cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Technology, is planning a series of actions, including a monthly online campaign that highlights a female role model or a woman’s success story in the STEM field. Additionally, various training activities for educators and career advisors on gender-related issues are being planned along with the Ministry of Education. The goal is to deconstruct unconscious biases that often lure girls and boys into occupations based on stereotypes and into the so-called “traditional women and men's career professions”.

Finally, the Commissioner stressed the importance of acknowledging women role models and encouraging more women to follow in their footsteps. "We must recognize women's achievements and encourage more of them to pursue careers in STEM-related fields," she concluded.

The 1st WMSC Workshop was organized by the Women in Mathematical Sciences in Cyprus (WMSC) network, on May 12, 2023. The workshop aimed to provide a platform for women in mathematical sciences to showcase their work and scientific journeys, promote diversity and inclusion. The event was inspired by the exhibition "Women of Mathematics from around the world; A gallery of Portraits" which is hosted at the same venue -Institute of Neurology and Genetics- from May 10 to 26, 2023.

In the bigger picture, although more girls are attending school than ever before, gender disparities still exist in education. Girls are often held back by biases, social norms and expectations that affect the quality of their education and the subjects they choose to study, resulting in under-representation in STEM fields. This is especially alarming since STEM careers are considered to be jobs of the future that drive innovation and sustainable development. The equal participation of women and girls in STEM is more important than ever, not only for technological growth and innovation but also as an economic necessity. In Europe, doubling the share of women in the tech workforce could potentially boost GDP by up to €600 billion, McKinsey Senior Partner, Sven Blumberg, reports.