GUWAHATI, Oct 12 - The British Council, the United Kingdom�s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, launched scholarships worth GBP 1 million for 59 Indian women pursuing a master�s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in the United Kingdom for the academic year 2019-20.
The scholarship was instituted in 2018, on the British Council�s 70th anniversary in India and this is its second edition.
The British Council�s investment in women scholars supports the Indian Government�s emphasis on women-led development and supports the UN�s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls. The objective is to support women who are likely to become leaders in their fields over the next 20 years.
Already, three young women from Assam are pursuing their master�s courses under the scholarship. Anubhuti Gohain Boruah is pursuing Masters in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics at the Department of Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science.
Another student, Preeti Jain is doing MSc Propulsion and Engine Systems Engineering (Advanced Mechanical Engineering Sciences) from University of Southampton.
Afreen Islam is pursuing MSc in Advanced Control and Systems Engineering at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering from The University of Manchester.
�The British Council has been consciously working towards increasing the participation of women in science. In India, it improves research collaboration between educational institutions, provides overseas PhD placements, links researchers and research institutions and provides training to women scientists,� a British Council statement said.
The United Kingdom is a global leader in quality research � four of the world�s top 10 universities are in the UK.
