The First Event
International Forum on Women in Science & Technology in Muslim Countries
20-22 September 2011 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The International Forum on Women in Science and Technology in Muslim Countries was successfully organised by ISTIC, the NAM Institute of the Empowerment of Women, Malaysia (NIEW) in collaboration with UNESCO, ISESCO, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development Malaysia, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia (MOSTI), Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO, Academy of Science Malaysia and Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World.
About 275 participants comprising 55 overseas participants, 180 Malaysians participants and 40 speakers attended the Forum. Participants of the Forum were policy makers, scientists, academics, representatives of women organisations, NGO’s, ministries of women affairs, and young women. The Forum was also attended by the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development of Nigeria, Hajiya Zainab Maina.
The opening was officiated by Dato’ Dr. Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur, the Secretary General, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Malaysia. The Secretary General of MOSTI, Dato’ Madinah Mohamad, Deputy Secretary General of MOSTI, Dato’ Dr. Sharifah Zarah Syed Ahmad and Datin Paduka Prof Dr. Khatijah Mohd Yusoff participated as moderators and speakers. The Forum was officially closed by the Hon. Senator Dato’ Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Malaysia.
2nd Event
International Forum on Harnessing Women’s Talents in Science, Technology and Innovation
25 – 26 May 2015 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The forum was organised in collaboration with ISESCO and the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO and was attended by 127 participants representing 21 countries.
There were three keynote addresses and three forums around the following themes:
i. Women in Entrepreneurship: Initiatives to Promote Gender Balance at Senior Management / Leadership level
ii. Women in STI Related Professions in Government Sector and Academia: “Promotion and Retention for Women in STIˮ
iii. Developing Talents for Future Women Leaders.
The forum brought together policy makers, successful women in STI, senior managers at government and private sectors to discuss strategies and solutions of the under representation of women in STI careers and in higher positions. H.E. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO giving the keynote address H.E. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO launching the Forum Recommendations were made on how women in science and technology can be made visible in the organisation and on how their potential can be maximised to benefit both the women and the organisation.
3rd Event
3rd Biennial International Conference on Women in Science, Technology and Innovation: ”Innovative Solutions by Women in STI for UN Sustainable Development Goal 2016-2030″
15-16 May 2017 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015-2030 seeks to transform the world through addressing pressing challenges facing the world today such as poverty, inequality, health, education. Science and technology are vital in achieving all the SDGs. Women too have a vital role to play in meeting the goals. Health, poverty, limited access to education and basic services, discrimination in employment and public life all have women at the core. SDG No. 5 which aims to “promote gender equality and empower all women and girls” highlights the need to mobilise women effectively in attaining these SDGs.
With this in mind ISTIC organised the 3rd Biennial Conference on Women in Science, Technology and Innovation: Innovative Solutions by Women in STI for UN Sustainable Development Goals from May 15-16, 2017. The Conference was built on the Resolutions of the 2nd International Conference in 2015 with the focus in practical solutions by Women in STI for the SDGs. The Conference was aimed at showcasing successful innovations in STI by women in solving or minimising problems faced by women and at exchanging and sharing experiences on how to achieve SDG No. 5. The Conference, held at the Seri Pacific Hotel in Kuala Lumpur had the support of the Islamic Science, Education, Social and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) and the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO and was jointly officiated by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation representing the Ministry’s Hon. Minister and Dr. Gulser Corat, Director, Division of Gender Equality, UNESCO Paris representing H.E. Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO. A video message from the Director-General on UNESCO during the opening added significance to the event.
4th Event
4th Biennial International Conference on Women in Science, Technology and Innovation: “Empowering Women through Technology”
22-23 July 2019 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The two-day international conference was held at Sunway Putra Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This biennial event devolved from the resolutions of the 3rd Biennial International Conference held in Kuala Lumpur in 2017. The Conference focused on how technology helps to uplift women in their lives thus contributing tothe achievement of the overall Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2016-2030. The Conference also received the strong support of UNESCO, UN Women, and UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). The Conference showcased successful innovations in STI by men and women in solving and/or minimising problems faced by women, by exchanging and sharing experiences on how to achieve SDG No. 5. The Conference was officiated by the Honorable Yeo Bee Yin, Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environmentand Climate Change (MESTECC), Malaysia. A video message from the Executive Director of UN Women, H.E. Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and a written message from Dr. Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO which was delivered on her behalf by the ISTIC Director. Prof. Datuk Dr. Halimaton Hamdan, Chair of ISTIC Governing Board and Dr. Denis Nkala, Regional Director of UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) also spoke during the opening session. The opening session was a joint officiation of the international conference, the forum and the training workshop for two other events which were held along the conference – Forum on Maintenance of Infrastructure, Training Workshop on Maintenance of Infrastructure for Developing Countries.
The Conference focused on four themes:
1. Closing the Gender Technology Gap and Implications for Education and Training.
2. Connecting Women through the Use of Technology for Social and Economic Development.
3. Improving Access to Technology for Women and Girls, Especially in Remote and Marginalized Areas.
4. Women in Technology Industry – Creation of Communities that Drive Innovation, Facilitate
Knowledge Sharing and Provide Support.
There were four plenary sessions based on the above themes with five keynote speakers and twelve speakers, who presented their projects and initiatives that reflect the empowerment of women and the community through the use of technology – which includes virtual education, digital platforms, technological innovations and social media. The conference brought together prominent and successful women and men, all experts in their own fields who talked about their solutions and innovations, the impact of said projects on women and the community, and suggestions on how the SDGs can be achieved through the use of technology. Two special addresses were given by H.E. Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former President of Mauritius through video and Dr. Shahbaz Khan, Director Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNESCO; representing the Director-General of UNESCO.
127 delegates from 29 countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore,South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uganda, United Kingdom, Y emen and Zimbabwe) and four international organisations namely the Regional Asia-Pacific of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), Economic Cooperation Organization Science Foundation (ECOSF), Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) of Sri Lanka attended the Conference. The attendees consisted of 14 males and 113 females.
Academician Dato’ Ir. (Dr.) Lee Yee Cheong, the Honorary Chair of ISTIC and the Commissioner of UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development Goals, delivered a special address on Industry 4.0 as the final lecture. Dr Shahbaz Khan, the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific representing the Director-General of UNESCO gave the closing address.
