APNN History
In 2008 (during ICWES14), the formation of APNN was initiated with the goals to
- Hold an Asian regional meeting of INWES
- Increase INWES members in Asia and the Pacific Nations
- Promote the role of women scientists and engineers in Asian and the Pacific Nations
At the Asian Network Workshop in 2009 INWES regional conference in Busan hosted by KWSE, it was decided to hold the 1st Asia and Pacific Nation Network Meeting during ICWES15 (2011).
1st Annual Meeting (July 19, 2011) Adelaide, Australia, Hosted by Engineers Australia
2nd Annual Meeting (June 13, 2012) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hosted by IEM
3rd Annual Meeting (Sept. 14, 2013) Taipei, Taiwan, Hosted by TWiST
4th Annual Meeting (July 30, 2014) Seoul, Korea, Hosted by KWSE
5th Annual Meeting (June 25, 2015) Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Hosted by WSTEM
6th Annual Meeting (August, 18, 2016) Wellington, New Zealand, Hosted by IPENZ
7th Annual Meeting (July, 14, 2017) Yokohama, Japan, Hosted by JNWES
8th Annual Meeting (October, 18, 2018) Hanoi, Vietnam, Hosted by VAFIW
9th Annual Meeting (September, 21, 2019) Kathmandu, Nepal, Hosted by WISENEPAL
10th Annual Meeting (October, 24-25, 2020), New Taipei City, Taiwan. Hosted by Twist (flyer). The event was held in both ways-physical and virtual attendance due to COVID-19.
APNN Chair organization:
- KWSE (Korea) 2012-2014
- JNWES (Japan) 2015-2017
- TWiST (Taiwan) 2018-2020
- WSTEM (Mongolia) 2021-2023
- PTC WEN(Philippines) 2024-2026
In 2015, at the 5th INWES APNN meeting, the working groups activities were proposed in order to be more active in building the network among APNN members and to develop systematic plans composed by four programs as the following responsible teams:
1. Exchange/visiting program (WSTEM)
2. Empowering/education program (KWSE)
3. Gathering program (TWiST)
4. Gender equality/governmental act (WE-Malaysia and Vietnam)
As a platform for Asian women scientists and engineers to exchange information and policies and current, INWES APNN Meeting is scheduled to be held in a different member country each year, and to have post-conference reports published.
Please take a look at the latest country report from here(Proceedings).
INWES APNN – Hanoi Declaration (APNN 2024 Conference)
2024 INWES APNN CONFERENCE
“The Role of Women in Science and Technology
and International Integration for Sustainable Development”
4 – 5 October 2024
HA NOI RECOMMENDATION
____________________________________________________
Preamble
We, the intellectual women of the International Network on Women Engineers and Scientists in Asia and Pacific Region attending the 2024 INWEST APNN Conference, held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam from 4th to 5th October 2024 under the theme “The Role of Women in Science and Technology and International Integration for Sustainable Development”;
Express our appreciation to the Viet Nam Intellectual Women Association for hosting the 2024 INWEST APNN – Asia Pacific Regional Conference and the strong support received from the leadership of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, including the Viet Nam Women Union, to both the Asia Pacific Regional Conference and to the Network;
Welcome the participation of the all delegations from the INWEST – APNN and other observers;
Recall the Outcomes’ Regional Conference in 2023, hosted by Taiwan Women in Science and Technology (TWIST) in Taiwan and congratulate the achievements and best practices in the region, both collectively and individually in implementing 2023 Conference’s Outcome;
Express concern that women have been underrepresented in STEM for many years, both in university and in industry in the region and the increasing impacts of climate change and conflicts, which have had devastating global implications and severe health and socio-economic impacts on people in Asia Pacific;
Highlight that the INWES-APNN network has become an important forum for female scientist and engineers to share experiences, best practices from one to another and work together to solve the common challenges; reaffirm that advancement and achievements are always through a collective effort and respect; focus on cultural perspectives and societal expectations.
Recognise the importance of gender equality and gender action plan to catalyse capacity-building initiatives in women’s full participation and leadership in science, technology, research & development and Integration for Sustainable Development; the importance of women in general and female scientists and engineers in particular in the decision making, leadership.
Recognise that we are now in an era of accelerating climate risk and are already experiencing impacts in our communities and in our Asia Pacific region;
Inline with our focused discussions on how to empower women in STEM and Research & Development as well as International Integration for Sustainable Development
We, the active members of INWEST – APNN in the Ha Noi Recommendation in 2024 Conference:
Agree that we must work together to find solutions and put into action on women empowerment, especially in the areas of STEM and Research & Development, through increasing opportunities for the continuous knowledge and skill development of women and girls, and give opportunities their involvement in regional cooperation and collaborations;
Re-commit to ensuring of INWEST – APNN are diverse and inclusive organisations, with specific emphasis on women empowerment.
Emphasize the importance of policy support to create an inclusive environment that promotes diversity and drives innovation within the engineering sector. Gender diversity, as mentioned in the presentation, is crucial for social equity and economic growth, benefiting both individuals and the broader community.
Provide mutual support in knowledge and experiences sharing and discussion through per to peer support to scale up our regional cooperation and collaboration ensuring accountability, transparency and continuity; Encourages to have more space for creativity, and leadership support networks is vital for women’s success in STEM.
Recommend that the INWEST – APNN will consider to raise funds for carrying out a study on equality between women and men, focusing on women’s participation in scientific and technological activities as well as promote the development of out-of-school science and technology education for women, in Asia Pacific region, to be carried out by the INWEST, with support of all its countries’ members.
Postamble
We, the countries’ members of the INWEST – APNN agree to prioritize practical implementation of the Ha Noi Recommendation, taking into account the diversity of the region and ensure effective implementation according to the Recommendation.
We agree that the 2025 Regional Conference will be organized by KWSE in Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
Endorsed and adopted on 5th October 2024.
INWES APNN – Hanoi Declaration (APNN 2018 Conference)
“We, 200 Vietnamese and international delegates from members of the Asia-Pacific Nation Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES-APNN), invited speakers, observers and representatives of the INWES Board of Directors attended the APNN 2018 Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam from 18-20 October 2018 with the theme “Women Scientists for Sustainable Development in the Digital Age”. We unanimously endorsed the Hanoi Declaration to demonstrate the commitment of the INWES-APNN members to strengthening the cooperative relationship, sharing experiences and synergies among the female scientists and engineers. The Asia-Pacific region contributes to the sustainable development of the region and the world, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- We noted the importance of female scientists and engineers to the growth and sustainable development of economies during the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the need to narrow the gender gap in science and technology.
Recent accomplishments
- We reiterated the timely establishment of the APNN in 2011, which was created as the first regional network of INWES in the Asia-Pacific region, an effective forum for the linking of female scientists and engineers in research and application of science and technology for sustainable development.
- We highly appreciated the results achieved by each member in 2017. The participants have discussed, shared and exchanged the experiences of models and successful lessons in the research and scientific application.
- We recognized that collaborative exchanges have contributed positively to encouraging female scientists and engineers. We welcomed the network members to hold many conferences, seminars and forums with a variety of topics and focus, attracting the participation of many women scientists and engineers as well as the initiatives that encourages young women to pay more attention to the science-technology-engineering-mathematics (STEM) field, meeting the requirements set forth during the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
- The maintenance of the APNN Annual Meeting provided the opportunity for female scientists and engineers to discuss issues of common concern, strengthening the connection and cooperation between women scientists and engineers and contributing to the promotion of gender equality in general and in science and technology in particular.
Challenges
- The urgent issues that humanity is facing such as war, poverty, natural disasters, epidemics, climate change, food safety etc. have a direct impact on the development of women scientists and engineers.
- The Fourth Industrial Revolution is expected to increase productivity and transform the way in which regional and global value chains are connected, but also contribute to increasing disparity in the distribution of results created by the growth and globalization.
- Although sectors related to science and technology are particularly important for economies, many countries in the region and in the world have not yet achieved gender equality in STEM. The participation of women, especially female scientists and engineers in senior management in science and technology and other fields is still very low.
Confirm commitment and partnership
- In an increasingly connected and dynamic region, APNN’s mission – to enhance the participation of women scientists and engineers in various fields for the benefit of common development – plays a very important role.
- We are committed to continuing the mission of APNN and building a responsible partnership towards the future of an increasingly creative, connected and sustainable community of women scientists and engineers in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Women scientists and engineers should be encouraged and facilitated to work in the world of modern technology, contributing to the economic and social development of the region in the context of globalization.
- We affirm our commitment to promoting cooperation in the spirit of straightforward, constructive, tolerant, harmonious, supportive and mutual respect.
- We support and encourage all efforts of APNN members in implementing follow-up activities to promote the sustainable and inclusive development, and strengthen the connection among members in the region.
Calling upon
- We urge the governments, business communities and the wider society to pay more attention to creating a legal environment, favorable mechanism and resources to encourage women scientists and engineers as well as intellectuals to contribute further to the sustainable development of the region in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
- Members attending the APNN 2018 conference highly appreciated the preparation and hospitality of the host country, namely the Vietnam Women’s Union and the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women, contributing significantly to the success of the 8th APNN Conference in Hanoi. Participants of the conference expressed their appreciation for Vietnam’s interest in facilitating the development of women in general and female scientists and engineers in particular.”
INWES APNN members
| Philippine | PTC – Women Engineers Network |
| Japan | JNWES (Japan Network of Women Engineers and Scientists) |
| Korea | KWSE (The Association of Korean Woman Scientists and Engineers) |
| Malaysia | IEM WE (Institute of Engineers Malaysia, Women Engineer section) |
| Mongolia | WSTEM (Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) |
| Nepal | WISE- Nepal (Women in Science and Engineering in Nepal) |
| New Zealand | IPENZ (Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand) *Women in Engineering programme |
| Pakistan | WESTIP (Women in Engineering, Science & Technology, Pakistan) |
| Sri Lanka | WISE-SL (Women in Science and Engineering Sri Lanka) |
| Taiwan | TWiST (The Society of Taiwan Women in Science and Technology) |
| Vietnam |