Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc. Ph.D., gave a keynote speech at QS in CONVERSATION event themed Advancing Female Leadership Through Higher Education, Wednesday (3/2), in Milan, Italy. The conference that was held by one of prestigious institutions on University Rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds, was joined by more than 120 participants from 69 universities in 32 countries.
On the occasion, Dwikorita delivered a presentation entitled Engineering Emancipation of Indonesia: The Role of Women in STEM Education. She explained women’s significant contribution that was started in the 19th century to 21st century. The 19th century is known as a hard century for women to fight for emancipation. While at the 21st century, women’s endeavor to create gender harmony on STEM field is seen.
Rector of UGM said that harmonizing gender on STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathemathics) education is very important. Women, according to Dwikorita, have special skill such as listening, empathy, and high adaptation skills that will bring new colors to STEM education.
Dwikorita also emphasised that STEM education has to be implemented across diciplines and adapted to the social and cultural condition of the people.
“STEM education doesn’t differentiate one discipline from the other, but it should combine disciplines to fit the social and culture context of the society,” she explained.
The concrete example of the importance of multidiscipline approach on STEM education is Human Technology Development on Landslide Mitigation in Indonesia and how to convert STEM into an art form that will be understood by larger audience. Hard science that is combined with social, cultural and psychological approach is proved as a better solution to face mitigation problem. The method is even published to all areas which are prone to landslides. Closing her speech, Dwikorita underlined the importance of harmonizing genders to achieve sovereignty and to compete in the global era.