The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the Commonwealth Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (CAPA ATUPA) are working together on a project to increase girls and women’s participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The main group involved from CAPA ATUPA is the Women in Technical Education and Development (WITED)
Chapters. The project title is called the COL ATUPA Women in STEM TVET WITED project –
abbreviated to CAWS WITED. The aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity of WITED Chapters and individual champions in TVET institutions to assess, deliver and monitor actions with the aim of increasing girls and women’s participation in STEM-TVET, and reducing the complex influences of societal, cultural, and economic reasons that impede girls and women’s participation in STEM-TVET.
This guide was developed as an interactive document - you can either print it out or engage with it digitally. This guide is the first part of a twostage project:
- The first stage (this guide) offers practical steps to support WITED chapters and individual champions in TVET institutions to better understand their current practice through a selfassessment toolkit (Part 2.1) and offers guidance to plan actions with the aim of increasing girls and women’s participation in STEM-TVET (Part 2.3).
- The second stage is an online Community of Practice where WITED chapters and individual champions will share challenges, opportunities, resources and work together to plan, deliver, and evaluate actions in seven key areas.
