Too many women STEM students drop out before entering careers: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
When women are given equal access to opportunities, supported in their growth, and empowered to lead, the entire ecosystem benefits, says Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA)
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Context
Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw highlighted a significant challenge in India's STEM sector: while many women enroll in STEM education, a large number drop out before entering professional careers. This issue, termed the 'leaky pipeline', is being addressed by the BioWISE (Biowomen for W-inspiration, S-ustainability, and E-mpowerment) initiative. This program, a collaboration between the Biocon Foundation, the , and the , aims to provide internships, scholarships, and mentorship to women in life sciences to facilitate their transition from education to a STEM career.
UPSC Perspectives
Social
The article highlights the “leaky pipeline” phenomenon in India, where a high enrollment of women in STEM education does not translate into proportional representation in the workforce. While India has one of the world's highest percentages of female STEM graduates, at around 43%, their participation in the STEM workforce is only about 27%. This attrition is not due to a lack of talent but is caused by systemic and societal barriers. These include societal expectations regarding marriage and caregiving, which often lead to career breaks, a lack of female role models and mentors, and workplace biases. Initiatives like BioWISE are crucial as they create a support ecosystem with mentorship and practical experience, directly tackling the confidence and opportunity gap that forces many women to drop out. This issue is a key component of gender equality (SDG 5) and directly impacts India's potential for inclusive growth.
Economic
From an economic perspective, the underrepresentation of women in the STEM workforce is a significant loss of human capital. India invests heavily in subsidizing higher education, including in STEM fields. When highly educated women do not join the workforce, the return on this public investment is diminished. Furthermore, a diverse workforce is a proven driver of innovation and economic competitiveness. The attrition of women from STEM fields means a loss of diverse perspectives that are crucial for problem-solving and developing new technologies. By 2030, India aims to be a global R&D hub, and achieving this requires leveraging its entire talent pool. Programs like BioWISE, by creating structured pathways from academia to industry, help in retaining skilled talent, boosting the knowledge economy, and contributing to the national missions of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and 'Make in India' by ensuring a steady supply of skilled professionals for critical sectors like biotechnology.
Governance
The BioWISE initiative exemplifies a public-private partnership (PPP) model to address a critical policy challenge. It involves collaboration between a corporate foundation (Biocon), a government-backed S&T cluster (), and a premier research institution (). This model aligns with the government's broader strategy of fostering synergy between academia, industry, and government to solve national problems. The initiative is supported by the framework of the , which promotes such S&T clusters. The government has launched several schemes like Vigyan Jyoti, GATI, and WISE-KIRAN to encourage women in STEM. BioWISE complements these national efforts with a targeted, regional intervention, demonstrating a 'Quadruple Helix' model that includes academia, industry, government, and civil society to drive innovation and inclusive development. For UPSC, this serves as an excellent case study of collaborative governance and evidence-based policy intervention to address gaps in workforce participation.