The Philippines has the widest gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs among countries in Asia and the Pacific. The gender gap is at 22% in the Philippines, 21% in  Australia, 15% in Singapore, and 5% in India. 

STEM roles are among the fastest growing and most in-demand professions, offering resilience to economic pressures. However, the underrepresentation of women in these fields hinders their ability to benefit from industry advancements. The recent data emphasizes the need for systemic change to create fair and equal workplaces, ensuring women’s careers are future-proof and resilient to labor market uncertainties.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the organizer of the "TCS Sustainathon Philippines 2023: Empowering Women in STEM"  ideation competition, is calling on students to submit their ideas for innovative solutions to increase the representation of women and young girls in STEM.

At stake is 300,000 pesos ($5,416) in cash prizes. Up to three winners may be selected.

Students from senior high schools, colleges, and universities that are 25 years or below are encouraged to submit their proposals by 11 January 2024.

The initiative aims to inspire students to envision a sustainable future by leveraging on digital technologies to solve real-world problems. It is a platform that enables young minds to collaborate with private companies, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to co-create solutions to tackle sustainability challenges.

TCS started the initiative in Singapore in 2020. It now has editions across many countries and regions, including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the Middle East.