New Delhi, 18 November 2022, SHE Project: The Higher Education Minister of Kerala, R. Bindu, will launch the Scheme for Her Empowerment in Engineering Education (SHE) at the Government Engineering College (GEC), Kannur. The scheme comes under the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
The girl students of Government Engineering College (GEC) will be given exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.
SHE Project – Aim
The participation of women in professional courses is lower than the participation in academic courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. According to the data released by the Department of Science and Technology, 42% of STEM graduates in India are women, but their share in STEM jobs is less than 15%.
Historically, women have been seen as unfit for the domains that require intellect. They had to face a lack of opportunities and pay gaps due to which the percentage of women in the fields of Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics is comparatively low.
As per the Sustainable Development Report, Indian women in the Engineering field are comparatively more than those in the Mathematics, Technology, and Science fields. So, to balance the percentage of women in STEM education, the Government of Kerala has initiated to launch the Scheme for Her Empowerment in Engineering education (SHE) at the Government Engineering College (GEC), Kannur.
The students will be provided with mentorship programmes related to engineering-related jobs, skill-based courses, and other technical fields. The training programmes, interactions with experts, and mentorship initiatives will be part of the scheme.
SHE Project – Eligibility
- The scheme is applicable to women candidates only.
- Candidates must be studying at the Government Engineering College (GEC), Kannur.
- Candidates must be pursuing an engineering education.
- Candidates who are employed in the engineering sector can participate.
- Candidates must have secured 50% or more marks in Mathematics.
SHE Project – Other Initiatives
- To improve gender inclusivity, the ‘STEM for Girls Programme’ is implemented in rural areas with the aim to educate the girl students about the options of pursuing higher education in STEM-related courses.
- In 2020, the ‘STEM for Girls Programme’ was introduced in Assam’s 63 government schools. Under this program, the girls are encouraged to pursue higher education and try to build a STEM mindset.
- The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has launched a scheme ‘SERB-POWER’ for promoting opportunities for women in research. The scheme is aimed to reduce gender inequality in the fields of Science, Engineering and research. The SERB – POWER provides support to ensure equal access for Indian women scientists related to Research and Development (R&D) activities.
- The Department of Science & Technology has initiated the ‘Vigyan Jyoti’ scheme for meritorious school girls. The aim of this scheme is to improve the condition of women in different fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
- Under the scheme, students will be allowed to participate in activities such as science camps, workshops, and visits to research labs.
- The Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY), mentorship support is launched by the Government of India to provide girls’ students with basic knowledge of the Science field. The aim of this scheme is to help students realise the value of science and technology and ensure the growth of the best scientific minds.
SHE Project – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1 What are the benefits of STEM education?
The increase in STEM education will promote entrepreneurship and the global startup culture in India.
Q2. When will the Kerala government launch the SHE programme?
The Government of Kerala will launch the Scheme for Her Empowerment in Engineering Education (SHE) on 18 November, 2022.
Q3. Who is eligible for the SHE programme?
The SHE scheme is only applicable to women candidates of the Government Engineering College (GEC), Kannur.
