Picture this: 11 brilliant women from across ASEAN are packing their bags, not just for the UK, but for the future of science, tech, and innovation in their countries. From cyber security to precision medicine, these scholars are set to shake up fields where women have long been underrepresented.
Launched in 2024, the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarship isn’t your average academic programme, it’s a movement. Think of it like the Avengers assembling, but instead of fighting villains, these women are taking on the gender gap in STEM.
This year’s cohort comes from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam, all chosen after a tough selection process that drew hundreds of applications across ASEAN and Timor-Leste. The prize? A fully-funded master’s degree at either the University of Manchester or the University of Warwick, starting September 2025.
Among the names, one Malaysian stands tall: Najah Fareeha Binti Abd Rashid, who’s heading to Warwick to dive deep into Polymer Chemistry. (Yes, the stuff that makes your everyday plastics, biomaterials, and sustainable solutions possible.)
The full list of scholars reads like a dream team roster, from Cambodia’s Kimsrung Lov mastering Cyber Security Engineering, to Viet Nam’s Trang Ngo exploring Behavioural and Data Science. Each has their own mission, but together, they represent something bigger: possibility.
Why does this matter? Because every L’Oréal ad tells us “we’re worth it,” but opportunities like this prove it. Scholarships like ASEAN-UK SAGE aren’t just about ticking boxes for gender equality. They’re about rewriting futures. For every woman in this programme, there’s a ripple effect, younger girls inspired, communities empowered, and entire industries pushed forward.
As ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn puts it, it’s about “bridging the gender gap and fostering a more inclusive and innovative future.” Or, as the UK’s Amanda McLoughlin frames it, investing in women is investing in economic potential.
For now, the spotlight’s on these 11 scholars, but their stories are just beginning. When they return, degrees in hand, expect to see them leading labs, shaping policies, or mentoring the next wave of women in STEM.
Because representation isn’t just about being in the room. It’s about changing the conversation. And these women? They’re about to do just that.
For more information on the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, please visit: https://www.britishcouncil.id/