Initiative Aims to Boost Gender Inclusion in STEM Fields
February 5, 2025 – Mphasis Limited (NSE: MPHASIS, BSE: 526299) has partnered with Plaksha University to launch the DS Brar Center for Girls and Women in STEM, a strategic initiative aimed at fostering greater participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This milestone collaboration seeks to provide mentorship, learning resources, and networking opportunities to address gender disparities in STEM-related careers.Addressing the Gender Gap in STEM
Despite steady progress in education and workforce participation, women remain significantly underrepresented in STEM. Only 28% of engineering graduates in India are women, and while 40% of computer science and informatics graduates are female, the figure drops to just 22% in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence (AI). The DS Brar Center aims to bridge this gap by fostering an inclusive ecosystem with support from industry leaders, academic institutions, and government bodies.The center will offer a three-month GWiST (Girls and Women in STEM) Fellowship – “She Innovates”, tailored for women entrepreneurs. The fellowship will provide:
- Accelerator boot camps
- Masterclasses
- Mentorship sessions with prominent professionals across academia, industry, and government.
Leadership Perspectives
At the launch event, Prof. Rudra Pratap, Vice Chancellor of Plaksha University, emphasized the urgency of gender inclusivity in STEM.Nitin Rakesh, CEO and Managing Director of Mphasis, reiterated the company's commitment to purposeful innovation:“More than women needing STEM, it is STEM that needs women—to drive innovation, tackle global challenges, and reimagine the future. At Plaksha, we are dedicated to making STEM accessible to all youth and aim to achieve 50% enrollment of women in our programs, setting a benchmark for equity and excellence in STEM education.”
“By addressing systemic challenges and building synergies, this initiative empowers young women to not only thrive in STEM careers but also reshape the future of these fields. We are proud to partner with Plaksha University in creating a transformative platform that uplifts and inspires.”
Mphasis Foundation’s Commitment to STEM Inclusion
The DS Brar Center builds on the Mphasis Foundation’s two-decade-long commitment to enhancing the participation of girls and women in STEM. Through sustained efforts and financial support, Mphasis has worked to nurture new ideas, empower women, and advance STEM education across India.About Mphasis and Plaksha University
Mphasis is a leading global technology services provider, leveraging cloud, AI, and cognitive technologies to enable enterprises' digital transformation. The company's Front2Back™ approach emphasizes hyper-personalized solutions for clients across industries.Plaksha University, founded by over 100 global technology and business leaders, is committed to reimagining interdisciplinary technology education in India. It collaborates with UC Berkeley, Purdue, IIT Kanpur, and IISc Bangalore, among other premier institutions, to nurture future innovators and leaders.
This strategic initiative positions Mphasis and Plaksha University at the forefront of gender inclusivity in STEM, creating new opportunities for young women to excel in the field.