Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has taken significant steps towards supporting women’s empowerment through its Women in STEM fellowship program. Launched with the aim of fostering gender diversity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, HUL’s initiative focuses on empowering women scholars pursuing their PhDs in areas linked to the United Nations prescribed Sustainable Goals (SDGs).
The fellowship offers a financial award, benchmarked to the prestigious Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF), covering the entire duration of a five-year PhD program. This financial backing allows scholars to focus on their research without financial constraints, supporting expenses like research grants, travel, and attending international conferences.
The Women in STEM fellowship, now in its second year, strives to create a favourable atmosphere for women to pursue successful STEM careers by offering financial aid and mentorship opportunities with top leaders at HUL and the external academic ecosystem.
A key component of the fellowship is providing access to senior mentors from both Unilever and HUL’s external ecosystem. This mentorship addresses the often-lamented lack of role models for women in STEM, offering guidance and support throughout their academic journey.
By selecting fellows from top institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and planning to extend the fellowship to other leading national science and technology institutes, HUL aims to create a more inclusive environment. The program not only supports current scholars but also inspires the next generation of women scientists and engineers.
The fellowship targets research that aligns with critical global issues like health & hygiene, clean water & sanitation, nutrition & fortification, and climate action & sustainability. This focus ensures that the research conducted by the fellows contributes to broader societal benefits.
HUL’s efforts extend beyond direct academic support. They recognize and tackle broader challenges like mentorship, unconscious bias, and household responsibilities which often act as barriers for women in STEM. By promoting a gender-balanced workforce within their R&D centers, with over 50% of management roles occupied by women, HUL sets an example for corporate culture change.
Through these initiatives, HUL not only aids in the academic development of women in STEM but also contributes to a larger narrative of gender equality and empowerment in scientific research.
Galactik Views