Eleven ASEAN women win UK scholarships for STEM study

The UK and ASEAN, through the ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme, announced the 2025 recipients of the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships on 21 August 2025.

Launched in 2024, this scholarship aims to address gender disparities in access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and careers across ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste and empower the next generation of women in STEM.

After a highly competitive selection process, which saw hundreds of students from across all ten ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste apply, ASEAN-UK SAGE is delighted to announce 11 outstanding women from eight countries will be travelling to the UK later this year to begin their master’s studies at either the University of Manchester or the University of Warwick.

These talented individuals share a passion and vision to make a difference in their respective countries through STEM, a field where women have traditionally been underrepresented. This includes two (2) scholarship recipients from the Philippines, Dannah Celine Gutierrez and Marie Eirene Fabon, who will be studying Renewable Energy and Clean Technology at the University of Manchester and Humanitarian Engineering at the University of Warwick, respectively.

Each recipient will receive a fully funded opportunity to complete a master’s degree at the prestigious University of Warwick or the University of Manchester and will be travelling to the UK to take up their studies from September 2025. It is hoped that the scholars will go on to have successful careers in STEM, and to become inspirational role models to other women, as advocates and leaders in their field.  

Scholarship Recipients (2025)

The full list of the 2025 recipients of ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships are:

• Kimsrung Lov (Cambodia), Cyber Security Engineering, University of Warwick
• Aulia Nugroho (Indonesia), Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, University of Manchester
• Bianca Prasetya (Indonesia), Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, University of Manchester
• Rana Adwinda (Indonesia), Health Data Science, University of Manchester
• Najah Fareeha Binti Abd Rashid (Malaysia), Polymer Chemistry, University of Warwick
• Thiri Yamin Hsu (Myanmar), Applied Artificial Intelligence, University of Warwick
• Dannah Celine Gutierrez (the Philippines), Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, University of Manchester
• Marie Eirene Fabon (the Philippines), Humanitarian Engineering, University of Warwick
• Lim Su Wei (Singapore), Precision Medicine, University of Manchester
• Tayida Phanich (Thailand), Clinical Biochemistry, University of Manchester
• Trang Ngo (Viet Nam), Behavioural and Data Science, University of Warwick

These outstanding scholars were selected from a pool of high calibre applicants based on their academic achievements, leadership potential, and their desire to make significant contributions to the STEM field in their home countries.

The scholarships have been developed by the British Council and are funded by the UK Government through the ASEAN–UK SAGE Programme.

“With the second cohort of scholarship recipients set to make their journey to the UK, this highlights the UK and ASEAN’s shared ongoing commitment to gender equality and female empowerment in STEM,” said ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn.

“By supporting girls and marginalised communities in accessing education and improving foundational learning, we aim to bridge the gender gap and foster a more inclusive and innovative future,” he added.

The scholarship is part of the broader ASEAN-UK Plan of Action 2022–2026, which focuses on building educational ties, improving learning outcomes, and promoting gender equity.

“As a dedicated ASEAN Dialogue Partner, the UK is proud to support these exceptional women in STEM through the ASEAN-UK SAGE scholarships,” said Amanda McLoughlin, UK Development Director for Indonesia and ASEAN.

“Investing in women’s education is not just about equality,” she said.

“It’s about unlocking economic potential and driving inclusive development across ASEAN,” McLoughlin added.

Summer Xia, Director Southeast Asia for the British Council, praised the scholars and emphasized their long-term impact.

“We are thrilled to announce the second cohort of ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM scholars and can’t wait to see the impact they will make,” Xia said.

“We look forward to seeing how they will advance STEM in their communities and across the region in the years to come,” he added.

The ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme is co-led by the British Council and SEAMEO Secretariat, in partnership with the Australian Council for Educational Research and EdTech Hub.

For more information, visit: https://www.britishcouncil.id/en/programmes/education/sage