Tashkent, Uzbekistan – About 30 senior students from school №242 of the Tashkent city took part in the STEM4Her guided tour at the Turin Polytechnic University. The event was organised with the support of the European Union (EU), as part of the EU–Uzbekistan Sustainable Energy Days.
In 2023, School №242 was officially recognised by the EU as Tashkent’s Most Energy-Efficient School, making it a natural choice to engage in this career development and sustainability-focused initiative. The STEM4Her event was specifically designed to spark interest among young learners, especially girls, in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and the clean energy field. Uzbekistan shows a steady increase in the share of girls in STEM, which rose to 40.2 percent in 2021, as the national Agency of Statistics reports. However, women participation in the energy sector remains low – they represent only 12% of the workforce.
Addressing the participants, Mr Christos Marazopoulos, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Uzbekistan, said: “The STEM4Her event embodies the belief that empowering girls in STEM is key to achieving sustainable development and building a more innovative and green future. The EU is proud to support such initiatives that inspire girls to pursue their passion in the fields that are still often perceived as fit only for men. I encourage you to break this stereotype and bring your fresh vision to STEM and the energy sector.”
During the event, the schoolchildren toured the University’s modern facilities and laboratories, getting first-hand exposure to research and innovation. Participants also engaged in an interactive session with successful female professionals, University leadership, and female students, learning from their experiences in advancing sustainable energy, science, and research in Uzbekistan. The event concluded with a lively quiz to test students’ newly-gained knowledge in an engaging way.
Following the STEM4Her event, participants attended the inauguration of the photo exhibition “The European Union – Uzbekistan: Faces of Sustainable Energy Development Cooperation”, showcasing inspiring portraits of individuals driving the energy transition across Central Asia. The event programme also featured the presentation of certificates from the EU’s Regional Media Contest “Energy Transition for a Better Tomorrow”, held between 15 April and 14 May 2025. Among over 120 participating journalists, Doniyor Tukhsinov from Kun.uz received the third prize, while Aizada Amangeldiyeva from Anhor.uz was awarded a special diploma by the contest jury. This ceremony highlighted the vital role of media in raising public awareness about sustainable development.
The Sustainable Energy Days campaign and its events were organised by the EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)”.
Background:
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.
The European Union – Uzbekistan Sustainable Energy Days is part of the broader European Union – Central Asia Sustainable Energy Days campaign. Its purpose is to enhance the awareness of national stakeholders and the public in the region of Central Asia on the significance, benefits and accessibility of sustainable energy and the interlinkage between energy and climate change. It also represents a global edition of EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), the largest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe, initiated in 2007 by the European Commission.
The EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” (from March 2022 to March 2026) aims to promote a sustainable energy mix in the Central Asia region in line with EU best practices. SECCA strives to provide for strengthened and more inclusive policy, regulatory and institutional framework for the transition to a sustainable energy system, within a regional context. It also focuses on raising the public’s awareness about energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE), and improving investment climate for EE and RE projects.
For additional information, please contact Mrs Yelena Serebrennikova, SECCA Communication strategist, email: media@secca.eu, Mrs Nurgul Smagulova-Dulic, SECCA Media relations expert, email: nurgul.smagulova@secca.eu, or the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, email: delegation-uzbekistan@eeas.europa.eu.
