Insider Spotlight
Eleven women from eight ASEAN countries, including two from the Philippines, have been awarded the 2025 ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships
Fully funded master’s studies at the University of Manchester or University of Warwick begin September 2025.
The program tackles gender gaps in STEM and strengthens ASEAN-UK collaboration.
Launched in 2024, the scholarship program aims to address gender disparities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers across ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste.
The scholars
The 2025 ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholars represent eight ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste, showcasing the region’s diversity of talent. They are:
Kimsrung Lov (Cambodia) – Cyber Security Engineering, University of Warwick
Aulia Nugroho (Indonesia) – Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, University of Manchester
Bianca Prasetya (Indonesia) – Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, University of Manchester
Rana Adwinda (Indonesia) – Health Data Science, University of Manchester
Najah Fareeha Binti Abd Rashid (Malaysia) – Polymer Chemistry, University of Warwick
Thiri Yamin Hsu (Myanmar) – Applied Artificial Intelligence, University of Warwick
Dannah Celine Gutierrez (Philippines) – Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, University of Manchester
Marie Eirene Fabon (Philippines) – Humanitarian Engineering, University of Warwick
Lim Su Wei (Singapore) – Precision Medicine, University of Manchester
Tayida Phanich (Thailand) – Clinical Biochemistry, University of Manchester
Trang Ngo (Vietnam) – Behavioral and Data Science, University of Warwick
The recipients were chosen from a competitive pool of applicants based on academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to advancing STEM in their home countries.
Driving inclusivity in STEM
The awardees will pursue advanced studies at either the University of Manchester or the University of Warwick, beginning in September 2025.
Selected from hundreds of applicants, the scholars stood out for their academic excellence, leadership potential, and dedication to advancing STEM in their home countries.
What leaders are saying
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn emphasized the program’s impact: “With the second cohort of scholarship recipients set to make their journey to the UK, this highlights the UK and ASEAN’s shared ongoing commitment to gender equality and female empowerment in STEM.”
UK Development Director for Indonesia and ASEAN Amanda McLoughlin underscored the broader benefits: “Investing in women’s education is not just about equality. It’s about unlocking economic potential and driving inclusive development across ASEAN.”
Summer Xia, director Southeast Asia at the British Council, added: “We are thrilled to announce the second cohort … We look forward to seeing how they will advance STEM in their communities and across the region.”
Why it matters
The scholarships, funded by the UK government and delivered by the British Council under the ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme, align with the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action 2022–2026.
Beyond education, the initiative fosters deeper regional collaboration, tackling gender barriers in STEM while strengthening people-to-people ties between ASEAN and the UK. —Ed: Ramon C. Nocon
