Cardiff Metropolitan University has been leading an international initiative to improve gender equality in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) by delivering training to hundreds of women.
The Partnership in Equality (PIE) for UK-Pakistan Women in Robotics & AI aims to close the gender gap in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (RAI) by supporting women in the UK and Pakistan to pursue careers in these fields.
With funding from the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships initiative, the project has been led by Dr Shadan Khan Khattak, alongside Dr Chow Siing Sia and Dr Esyin Chew from the University’s Eureka Robotics Centre, in collaboration with the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and eight higher education (HE) and further education (FE) institutions in Pakistan.
As part of the initiative, the PIE team from Cardiff Met and NUST delivered face-to-face Robotics and AI training to 263 female students and 65 female academics at six institutions in Pakistan. The remaining two institutions were invited to a hybrid event at Cardiff Met.
The project is already having a significant impact: 97% of the training workshops participants expressed a desire to continue studying robotics, while 83% reported that the training had inspired them to explore career opportunities in STEM and AI.
A mentoring network has been established to foster leadership and peer learning, improving access to international opportunities for women who have historically been underrepresented in these fields.
A Robotics Lab at NUST has been established, as well as the integration of 11 social humanoid robots and other robotic equipment in universities in Pakistan, and the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between partner organisations in the country to strengthen future collaboration.
The project also provided a fully funded two-week international placement for one female student, Muskan Devi, from Pakistan’s minority Hindu community, enabling her to gain hands-on STEM training at Cardiff Met’s Eureka Robotics Centre.
Although the British Council funding concluded on 31 January 2025, the mentoring relationships created through the project remain active and the robots placed in Pakistan are still being used by Cardiff Met’s lead partner to conduct STEM Robotics and AI workshops in Pakistani universities, through local sources of funding.
It is hoped that other sources of funding could result in a second phase of the PIE project.
Dr Shadan Khan Khattak, Project Lead, said:
“This collaboration is a major step towards a more inclusive future for women in STEM. A special thanks to our partners at NUST, led by Dr Farkhanda Afzal, alongside Dr Ayesha Maqbool, Dr Alina Mirza, and Ms Uzma Ehsan for their help in bringing this initiative to life. Their dedication is inspiring women across Pakistan to see STEM as a viable path for their future.”
Dr Farkhanda Afzal, Lead NUST team, said:
“I am deeply honoured to have been part of the exceptional PIE project which provided us with a unique opportunity to advance our gender gap in STEM journey with a focus on Robotics & AI. We are thrilled to have partnered with the esteemed Eureka Robotics Centre and Cardiff Metropolitan University, whose unwavering support has been instrumental in making this project a success.”
Prof. Dr Anila Kamal, Vice-Chancellor, Rawalpindi Women University, said:
“We’re thrilled to have supported the PIE team introducing a new STEM pathway in Robotics and AI. Our students and staff benefited from workshops and mentoring, while PIE has fostered collaborations with international and national universities, enhancing our research and development prospects.”
