Empowering Female STEM Graduates 
Last week, SheSTEM hosted the Role Model Talk and Panel Discussion at East Delta University, Chattogram, which was dedicated to encouraging female STEM students to explore STEM career opportunities for women.
The session was graced by:
- Jurriaan Middelhoff — Ambassador for Youth, Education, and Work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and
- Thijs Woudstra — Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.
From left to right: Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh; Jurriaan Middelhoff, Ambassador for Youth, Education, and Work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Students along with industry experts from various sectors, actively participated in the event. Key figures from East Delta University, including:
- Sayeed Al Noman — Founder & Vice Chairman, East Delta University;
- Professor Dr. Mohammed Nazim Uddin — Vice Chancellor, East Delta University;
- Rawnak Afroze — Director of External Engagement and Assistant Professor at the School of Business Administration, East Delta University; and
- Md Mofazzal Uddin — Senior Assistant Director of IT & Innovations, East Delta University attended the session.
From left to right: Rawnak Afroze, Director of External Engagement and Assistant Professor at the School of Business Administration, East Delta University; and Professor Dr. Mohammed Nazim Uddin, Vice Chancellor, East Delta University.
Designed to inspire and empower female STEM students, the Role Model Talk provided a platform to learn from the experiences of female STEM role models, offering valuable insights into career challenges and opportunities. Through engaging discussions, the event shed light on career challenges, opportunities, career progression, innovation, interdisciplinary opportunities, and the evolving landscape for STEM graduates in Bangladesh. The Role Model Talk featured accomplished professionals, including:
- Tawhida Shiropa – CEO, Moner Bondhu; and
- Tasnia Latif – Project Coordinator, ShareTrip.
Tasnia Latif, Project Coordinator, ShareTrip
Tawhida Shiropa, CEO, Moner Bondhu
The Panel Discussion provided a dynamic platform for industry leaders, academicians, policymakers, and development practitioners to explore the evolving landscape of STEM careers in the age of AI integration. Speakers shared their experiences, shedding light on emerging market demands, skill development for STEM graduates, and growth opportunities for young STEM professionals. The Panel Discussion featured industry experts, including:
- Sabira Mehrin — Founder & CEO, Wander Woman;
- Nishat Tasnim Shuchi — Director, Walton Hi-Tech Industries;
- Fahmina Asad — Senior Manager, BSRM; and
- Jurriaan Middelhoff — Ambassador for Youth, Education, and Work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The event highlighted future prospects for youth, particularly women in STEM, and explored best practices from the Netherlands for fostering inclusive workplaces—insights that could be adopted in Bangladesh. As Jurriaan emphasized in his speech, “To ensure workplace inclusivity and safety, it is male colleagues’ responsibility to cooperate and help their female counterparts.” His words underscored the importance of collective effort in building equitable work environments, inspiring meaningful discussions on gender inclusion and professional growth.
From left to right: Two students of East Delta University interacting with the Ambassador for Youth, Education, and Work, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The session ended with a vote of thanks from the Director of External Engagement and Assistant Professor, Rawnak Afroze; and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Mohammed Nazim Uddin, East Delta University. Professor Nazim stated, “Increasing the employability of women in STEM careers demands strong Industry-academia collaboration in Bangladesh. East Delta University consistently takes the lead in fostering these partnerships and inspiring students to advance in their careers.”
SheSTEM extends its heartfelt gratitude to East Delta University for being a wonderful host for this event. Their dedication to fostering meaningful discussions and youth engagement made this gathering truly special.
SheSTEM is committed to inspiring, educating, and empowering women to pursue rewarding careers in STEM. We are devoted to enhancing industry-academia collaborations, increasing employability skills, and advocating for gender equality in STEM.
