WISET,the world's leading organization in creating value for women's science and technology
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WISET will be there to support you in fulling your hopes and dreams.
Greetings,
Today, there is a remarkable interest in fostering and utilizing women in STEM around the world. Korea is no exception, and the government is exerting considerable effort into nurturing women in STEM as a national development strategy. This is because, with the working-age population shrinking due to the low fertility rate and population aging, it has become more important than ever to utilize the female workforce. Plus, in the digital revolution era, advanced technology and scientific thinking are required across all industrial fields, thus requiring a far greater number of women with science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) competencies than ever before.
Accordingly, the Korean government enacted the Act on Fostering and Supporting Women Scientists and Technicians in 2002 and has been set and implementing mid- and long-term policy goals every five years. The 4th Master Plan implemented from 2019 to 2023 is aimed at “realizing a society where the potential value of women in STEM is realized.”
WISET is a public institution providing comprehensive support to women in STEM that was established in accordance with the aforementioned law and is operated with government funding. We are dedicated to ① educating women in STEM to develop the STEAM competencies demanded by society, ② creating jobs and conditions for them to advance into industry, academia, and research fields, and ③ creating a culture where the values created by women in STEM gets integrated with the values of society and nation.
First, we will further develop the WISET career cycle support system. This is a program where support tailored to each phase of the career cycle (education/career exploration, early stages of the career, career maintenance, and growth) aimed at promoting women’s entry and growth in STEM fields. We will strategically attract manpower to new industries by reinforcing demand-oriented support at industrial sites, diversify careers based on new technologies, nurture leaders at mid-level or higher, prevent career interruptions, and support the return to the labor market, thereby enabling women in STEM to confidently fulfill their roles amid rapid changes in the industry landscape.
Second, we will create a culture where women in STEM create values. With values such as inclusiveness, diversity, and work-life balance becoming increasingly important worldwide, there has been a growing interest in the social value of science and technology and gender equality in STEM fields. The social role and status of women in STEM must also ascend accordingly, and the environment and culture must be improved to this end. We will, therefore, strive to create awareness and the necessary conditions through the sustainable growth platform for women in STEM.
Third, we dedicate ourselves to systematically introducing global standards to Korea by expanding our exchanges with external networks and advanced organizations overseas. Through these efforts, we will create a science and technology ecosystem where women in STEM can be vocal and unleash their capabilities in all areas of society, from school classrooms to the boardrooms at companies and organizations, so that Korea can gain a greater competitive advantage in the area of science and technology.
Thank you.