Fundación Luksic completed three regional gatherings of the “Luksic Scholarship: More Women in STEM” program, bringing together nearly 100 students from the regions of Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Metropolitana, O’Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, Biobío, and La Araucanía during August, in celebration of Technical and Vocational Education Month.
The participants, students from Inacap, DUOC UC, AIEP, and Santo Tomás, are pursuing degrees in fields such as mining, programming, construction, and networking. In each city, the young women had the opportunity to reflect on their professional challenges and opportunities, sharing experiences around the STEM world.
Through workshops led by Jimena Zapata of Genias, the scholarship recipients learned about tools aimed at strengthening their employability — from technical skills to professional development strategies. These spaces were designed not only as training sessions, but as platforms for empowerment, collaboration, and mutual motivation.
“It is essential for women to be present in every space, especially in areas such as STEM, where we have historically had less participation. Our presence drives diversity, innovation, and better outcomes. These gatherings were a unique experience: they allowed participants to connect, acquire tools to face the labor market, discover themselves, and reinforce their confidence and self-assurance to fully project their potential,” said Zapata.
The gender gap in STEM fields still persists: currently, only 20.8% of enrollments in these programs correspond to women. To address this reality, the Luksic Scholarship was created with the purpose of narrowing that gap, offering financial support to women pursuing higher technical education. The scholarship seeks to ease the continuity of studies and facilitate timely graduation. Between 2024 and 2025, more than 200 women across the country have already been supported.
“Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics define the path toward innovation and the future of work, but the gender gap remains significant. That is why at Fundación Luksic we reaffirm our commitment to opening more opportunities for women, improving their trajectories, and contributing to the country’s development,” said Fernanda Orellana, Education Director at Fundación Luksic.
Karin Molina, a Mining Technician student from the O’Higgins Region, was one of the participants. She emphasized that her chosen career has always been a dream, and she aspires to achieve professional growth in this field: “It represents both a great challenge and a source of pride to be part of a group of women who are training to gradually break stereotypes and enter this male-dominated world.”
The closing of the gatherings in Concepción marked the end of this year’s regional cycle, while reinforcing the Foundation’s conviction: promoting more women in STEM means building a more diverse, fair, and promising future for Chile.
