The Institute of Social Studies Trust (ISST) recently participated in the Women in STEM (WiSE) Workshop in Malaysia, organized by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL). The forum brought together researchers and practitioners from across the Commonwealth to address a critical, shared paradox: while women’s enrollment in STEM is rising, massive gaps remain in workforce participation and leadership. Representing ISST, our Director, Dr. Jahnvi Andharia, and Research Analyst, Shipra, presented India's research and chaired dialogues on how structural barriers prevent women from translating qualifications into stable, long-term careers. 

Our presentation drew on the lived realities of women in engineering trades at Delhi's government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and the female students of the Saathi Centre in Kalyanpuri. While ITIs offer a vital bridge to technical employment for marginalized youth, women still account for less than 10% in engineering classrooms, where they face severe isolation, gendered stereotypes, and unequal access to practical, on-the-job training. Crucially, low placement rates across institutions indicate that the employment market itself is failing the women who successfully cross the finish line.

The cross-country dialogues revealed that these structural hurdles are remarkably uniform. From the unequal burden of unpaid care work to safety concerns in heavily male-dominated workshops, the "leaky pipeline" is a shared reality. The key takeaway from this collective learning experience was clear: small-scale, isolated pilot programs are no longer enough. Transforming the STEM and TVET landscape requires sustained institutional commitment, deep community buy-in, and governments that actively mainstream gender into macroeconomic and educational policies.

ISST extends its sincere thanks to the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and our host partners in Malaysia for facilitating this vital exchange. We are deeply grateful to the co-presenters, chairs, and participants whose shared knowledge forms the foundation of this collaborative journey.