WISS
Women in STEM Society (WISS)
Gender Initiatives to Promote Female Participation in Sciences and Mathematics at USP
STEM, an acronym established in 2001 by scientific administrators at the United States National Science Foundation, represents an educational curriculum focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These disciplines are crucial as they underpin innovation, problem-solving, and advancement in our rapidly evolving world. Although opportunities in STEM fields are available to everyone, men significantly outnumber women pursuing these majors in higher education, leading to a decline in female participation in STEM disciplines both locally and globally.
There is an urgent need to foster interest in STEM subjects from a young age, provide mentorship and a supportive environment for female students in higher education, and encourage women to pursue advanced degrees in STEM. Addressing these areas is critical for promoting gender balance in these vital fields and WISS is the platform that has been formed by USP academics to strategically tackle some of the issues at School level.
By fostering interest in STEM from a young age, providing mentorship and financial support, and creating a supportive environment, USP can empower women to overcome barriers and thrive in STEM fields. These efforts align with global sustainability goals, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 4 (Quality Education), as well as USP’s commitment to inclusivity and academic excellence.
One of the main aims of WISS is to identify and support high achieving female students in STEM through their academic involvement and achievements. Guiding and encouraging them to participate in undergraduate/postgraduate research, and offering scholarships to ensure that talented female students are well acknowledged and are provided with the opportunities for growth leading to higher education retention.
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Theme: Empowering Women in STEM: Building a Legacy of Inclusion and Innovation
The first in Fiji and for WISS was the event Global Women Breakfast 2025 by committee members, with the support of the Head of School (HoS) STEMP and SAGEONS Professor Bibhya Sharma, to commemorate and encourage the role of women in STEM at the University of the South Pacific. This event represented a key initiative designed to inspire and empower women and girls in science by providing a platform to celebrate their achievements while addressing the systemic challenges they continue to encounter.
Ongoing Workshops
Launch of Support and Mentoring Initiative- 11April 2025
This event was officiated by VC and President of USP, Prof Aluwalia, 2 DVCs- Prof Jito and Dr Tupou-Roosen, HOS STEMP and SAGEONS.
Top 35 – made up students from all the member countries that scored top marks in their final year of high school and are currently enrolled in STEM were recognized and applauded for their achievements.
To offer first-hand support, training, guidance and mentorship from leading female experts in the field.
This support program is designed to enhance the students’ academic and professional growth.
We aim to ensure that our top achievers are equipped with valuable insights, soft-skills, allow networking opportunities, within a supportive community of like-minded women
Also, we will provide each of the students an opening to participate in interactive workshops, to attend networking events and take part in career development sessions.
We would like to extend their experiences and gain exposure to the real- world STEM applications and secure Industry connections and internships.
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