Bridging the Gap for Women in STEM Careers
In many regions of Mexico, the path to a professional career is not solely determined by talent or passion. For women, it’s often shaped by family responsibilities and community dynamics that restrict their options, especially in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
According to UNESCO, only 35% of those pursuing higher education in STEM are women, and less than 30% participate in scientific research, limiting innovation and diversity of perspectives to address current and future challenges.
Samsung Mexico’s Initiative to Empower Women in Technology
To open new opportunities for women, Samsung Mexico is driving a new edition of its Corporate Social Responsibility program, the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC), with a clear goal: to bring more Mexican women into the technology world, particularly in artificial intelligence, through free training that combines technical content and leadership tools.
Since its implementation in 2021, the program has trained over 1,000 young people in skills that meet current labor market needs. However, female participation has been low.
“In Mexico, many young women assume community and care responsibilities that, while essential, are often unseen and undervalued. These duties take away their time for academic and professional development, limiting their opportunities and perpetuating gender gaps,” explained Lorena De Lima, Senior Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at Samsung Electronics Mexico.
Expanding Age Range for Women’s Participation
To address this challenge, the program has expanded, for the first time, the age range for women, allowing participation from 18 to 29 years old. The aim is to provide access to those who couldn’t participate in previous editions. This modification stems from the recognition that, as women advance in their adult lives, they begin to make decisions with greater freedom and have more conditions to engage in training programs of this type.
Moreover, the program offers comprehensive training aimed at strengthening the professional profile of participants. The training comprises a total of 150 hours, with 130 hours dedicated to technical content related to artificial intelligence and programming, and 20 hours focusing on soft skills like leadership, teamwork, and communication.
This combination allows students—from technical high school or university in public institutions—to acquire knowledge in real-world contexts and be better prepared to face labor environment challenges.
Additional Recognition for Soft Skills Training
This year, soft skills training will include an additional micro-credential. For the first time, the National Center for Evaluation in Higher Education (Ceneval) will grant an official micro-credential (micro-certificate) to those who complete the 20 hours of this program segment.
This recognition complements the academic endorsement from the University of Monterrey (UDEM), which has executed the program for the past three years and awards a curriculum-valued certificate to those who successfully complete the training.
“We want to offer tools and strengthen women’s confidence, with a special focus on expanding participation and growth opportunities in technology areas,” emphasized Lorena De Lima.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the purpose of Samsung’s Innovation Campus program? The program aims to bring more Mexican women into the technology world, particularly in artificial intelligence, through free training combining technical content and leadership tools.
- Why did Samsung Mexico expand the age range for women’s participation? To provide access to women who couldn’t participate in previous editions and recognize that as women advance in their adult lives, they make decisions with greater freedom and have more conditions to engage in training programs.
- What skills does the program focus on developing? The program focuses on technical content related to artificial intelligence and programming (130 hours) and soft skills like leadership, teamwork, and communication (20 hours).
- What additional recognition will participants receive this year? Participants will receive a micro-credential from Ceneval and an official micro-certificate for completing the soft skills training segment.
For more information on program bases, terms, and conditions of participation, visit: https://samsunginnovationcampus.udem.edu.mx/.
