Gender Equality in STEAM: An Investment in Moldova’s Future

Gender norms and stereotypes continue to shape the educational choices of young people, contributing to deeply gender-segregated sectors. Fields such as education, healthcare, and social protection have become predominantly feminized, while information and communication technologies (ICT), construction, and engineering remain largely male-dominated. In an economy increasingly driven by innovation and technology, the equal participation of girls and women in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) is no longer simply an educational aspiration, it is a strategic necessity for building transferable skills, sustainable development, and economic competitiveness.

Globally, UN Women works to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment across all areas of life, including women’s economic empowerment as one of its key priorities. Since 2015, development partners, including UN Women Moldova, have supported efforts to promote gender equality in STEAM fields across the country.

“Women represent only around 29% of the global STEAM workforce, while men account for only 6% of preschool teachers and around 32% of primary school teachers. This imbalance is largely driven by persistent stereotypes and prejudices suggesting that boys are not suited for caregiving and teaching roles, while girls are not suited for science or research. I hope that through joint efforts we can reduce these gender gaps. Inequalities in sectors such as education, healthcare, social protection, ICT, and construction later translate into labor market disparities, including significant wage gaps between women and men, with feminized sectors generally being less well paid,” said Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Moldova Country Representative.

STEAM in Schools: Where Interest and Confidence Begin

Interest in STEAM fields develops early in life, and girls’ access to STEAM programs helps create a more inclusive educational environment while increasing the likelihood that girls will pursue studies and careers in traditionally male-dominated sectors. According to the 2026 School Barometer, 82% of students believe girls can pursue the same professions as boys. However, only 70% would like to see more examples of women leaders included in lessons, while only 58% of boys support this initiative.

Through the modernization of school laboratories, including a physics laboratory at a STEAM-oriented middle school attended by more than 150 children from socially vulnerable families, UN Women is expanding girls’ access to hands-on learning opportunities.

In March, UN Women organized the first national physics competition for girls, bringing together 249 girls from grades 6–12 across 14 districts. “You don’t meet hundreds of girls who are passionate and eager to learn every day. Science has no gender,” said Delia Donțu, who won third place in the competition. With UN Women’s support, Delia later participated in the “In Memoriam Mihai Marinciuc” Physics Competition, where she received an honorable mention.

UN Women also contributes to strengthening teachers’ capacities. For more than a year, 200 students and 10 teachers from 10 regions of Moldova have participated in the “STEAMing Across Borders” program. Since September, 10 science clubs have been operating across the country, offering girls and boys opportunities to explore STEAM activities and visit partner organizations and companies to better understand the practical applications of STEAM disciplines. “STEAM prepares students for the future and encourages creativity, especially through the use of modern technologies such as augmented reality applications. As a result, we see students participating with greater engagement, curiosity, and motivation,” highlighted Diana Jelihovschi, a teacher from Salcuța village.

STEAM in Universities: Supporting Informed Choices

Creating stronger pathways for girls and women in STEAM also facilitates their transition into higher education and the labor market. Data shows that only 4.6% of female university students in Moldova choose STEAM fields. Through strategic initiatives developed in partnership with the Technical University of Moldova, UN Women has contributed to expanding girls’ and women’s access to education and opportunities in STEAM disciplines.

“Together with UN Women, we contribute to girls’ career guidance through summer schools that have already engaged more than 150 young women and men,” said Lilia Sava, Dean of the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications at TUM. As a result of these efforts, the share of female students enrolled in the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications increased from 12% in 2022 to 26%.

In 2024, UN Women renovated an electronics laboratory at the university, transforming the learning experience for more than 400 students. Among them is Ariana Țenu, one of four women studying in a group of 39 students. “When we can apply in practice what we learn in theory, it gives us greater confidence in our abilities and prepares us for real engineering challenges. When I think about my future career, I strongly believe women should have equal access to salaries, child-friendly workplaces, and leadership positions,” she said.

More than 50 girls have been encouraged to pursue STEAM studies at the Technical University of Moldova and vocational schools through the GirlsGoIT initiative launched in 2015. Over five years, the initiative helped more than 2,000 girls develop digital literacy, entrepreneurial thinking, and IT skills. As a result, 13 participants completed internships at leading ICT companies, while 17 graduates became ambassadors and created local initiative groups in their communities.

According to a study conducted by UN Women, girls’ career choices are strongly influenced by teachers, parents, and relatives. Through initiatives such as “Her Journey,” UN Women brings real stories of women succeeding in technical fields directly to young audiences through information sessions and dialogues. “What truly matters is determination, professionalism, and the desire to innovate. When young women see female role models in science and engineering, they begin to believe these careers are accessible to them as well,” said Vladlena Timofti, an aeronautical engineer, during a “Her Journey” session.

STEAM Careers: Economic Inclusion and Reducing Gender Gaps

Although the digital economy is generating increasing career opportunities, women and girls remain underrepresented, holding only 31% of ICT jobs and just 19% of digital professions globally. In this context, UN Women initiatives and partnerships with the private sector are opening new opportunities for women by providing access to professional training, skills development, and employment opportunities aligned with labor market demands.

More than 1,000 women and girls discovered new professional pathways through the “Empowering TECH Women” initiative. Participants strengthened their STEAM and ICT skills and took concrete steps toward careers in these sectors. In addition, 200 girls gained competencies in product development and tech entrepreneurship, while another 40 received full scholarships to Tekwill Academy.

Over the course of two years, the “Women in Online Work” initiative provided 200 women and girls, including refugees from Ukraine, with training in project management and digital marketing. Beyond training, the initiative also created co-working spaces that enabled participants to learn and work in supportive environments.

In partnership with Orange Moldova, 255 girls and women participated in a digital literacy program through which they gained digital skills, career guidance, and essential knowledge about online safety.

Through strategic initiatives supported by key donors including the European Union, Japan, Sweden, and USAID, and implemented in partnership with civil society and private sector actors such as the Association of ICT Companies in Moldova and TEKEDU, UN Women has expanded women’s - particularly vulnerable women’s - access to digital and financial skills development programs, increasing their employment opportunities and improving living standards.

By bringing together development partners, donor support, and the active involvement of the private sector, UN Women is contributing to a systemic transformation in the way women and girls access education and labor market opportunities in STEAM fields. This commitment reflects a long-term vision: building an inclusive, competitive, and innovative economy where gender equality becomes a driver of sustainable development.