AFS Global Stem Accelerators

The American Field Service (AFS) offers scholarship learning opportunities, this year in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania, for young women interested in STEM.

Women and girls who want to learn more about STEM often face challenging circumstances in fields that are traditionally dominated by men. In fact, although women make up more than half of the college-educated workforce globally, only 28% of workers in STEM fields are women.

Grace Lockington and Maia Grosser want to change that norm! They applied for, and were successful in gaining, a full scholarship to join the second cohort of the AFS Global STEM Accelerators. This is where 180 young women (ages 15-17.5) worldwide are energised to help solve some of today’s biggest global challenges by follow a twelve-week virtual exchange program. This is an amazing, and a well-deserved, opportunity. The students had to apply and ask their deans for a reference outlining their suitability and worthiness for the scholarship. With thousands of entries from across the globe, it is a real credit to these students that they were both chosen to be two of the 180 students given the opportunity to participate in the scheme.

Global STEM Accelerators scholars develop critical and technical competencies, like digital skills, design thinking, data literacy, and STEM awareness, paired with global competencies, such as emotional intelligence, critical thinking, intercultural awareness, and teamwork, to become changemakers in their communities. The program culminates with scholars developing social impact capstone projects and presentations that offer potential solutions to real world challenges, with an emphasis on sustainability. Scholars who successfully complete the program earn the Advanced Certificate on Global Competence for Social Impact, awarded by AFS and the University of Pennsylvania.

Grace Lockington Year 12

The main reason that I applied for this scholarship was because I knew it would be an amazing opportunity and learning experience, different from anything I've done before. I'm thrilled that I got accepted. The thing I'm most excited about is extending myself, not only academically, but also by meeting, spending time and collaborating with driven students from all over the world as we complete this course together.

Maia Grosser

This course was suggested to me by my dean and our principal. It involves having discussions with women from all areas of the world about STEM and sustainability to broaden our worldview and help us to understand how other people think, which will be an excellent tool for our futures. It's a great opportunity, and I highly encourage any eligible girls at our school to apply next year.