Scholarship Awarded in Support of Female Students in STEM Disciplines 2024-25

On Monday, 1 December 2025, the awards ceremony dedicated to the best students and graduates of the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) took place. The event, now an important annual occasion for the academic community, celebrated the commitment, excellence, and determination of the students who distinguished themselves through outstanding academic results.

During the ceremony, the USI Equal Opportunities Service also awarded its scholarship, a recognition designed to support and promote the presence of women in STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The initiative aims to strengthen young women’s access to fields of study and professions where gender disparities persist, contributing to the creation of a more equitable and representative environment.

The scholarship, worth CHF 4'000, was presented by Sonja Hildebrand, USI’s Pro-Rector for Sustainable Transformation and Equal Opportunities, to Jana Srbakoska, a Bachelor student in Informatics, recognised for her excellent performance and commitment in a field that continues to require greater inclusion.

Despite the progress made in recent years, STEM disciplines are still often perceived as traditionally male domains—a bias that may discourage many young women from pursuing these paths. Through concrete initiatives such as this scholarship, USI reaffirms the importance of making female talent visible, promoting positive role models, and creating an academic environment that encourages every individual to choose their future freely, free from conditioning and stereotypes.