Morgan Stanley, in partnership with The Women's Foundation (TWF), has announced the launch of their inaugural Step into STEM Scholarship in 2023. This scholarship aims to support Secondary 6 girls in Hong Kong to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education at the university level.

Joyce Chan, Head of Recruitment Marketing & University Relations at Morgan Stanley Asia, expressed her pride in the program. She stated on her LinkedIn profile, "Proud to announce that we have awarded eight scholarships this year, which covers a full year of university tuition in Hong Kong for our scholars. We wish them all the best as they navigate and embrace their university life, bringing them one step closer to their career goals in STEM."

The scholarship was launched as part of Morgan Stanley's Institute for Inclusion (IFI) initiative, which aims to address systemic educational and career inequities among young adults from low-to-moderate income backgrounds. Claire Goodchild, Asia Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Morgan Stanley, commented on the launch, "We are delighted to be supporting young women in Hong Kong to further their studies in STEM, and we hope this initiative will set them up for long-term career success."

This initiative is in collaboration with non-profit partner TWF. Fiona Nott, CEO of The Women's Foundation, emphasized the importance of STEM skills for future jobs, stating, "This is why we are thrilled to partner with Morgan Stanley to provide scholarships to disadvantaged girls to pursue STEM degrees and grow the pipeline of female talent entering into STEM-related careers."

The Step into STEM Scholarship will provide financial assistance to secondary school girls in Hong Kong who are interested in pursuing a STEM career. Scholarships will be awarded to selected eligible students admitted to a full-time STEM degree at a university in Hong Kong starting in September 2023. Applicants from TWF's Girls Go Tech (GGT) Program, which encourages disadvantaged secondary school girls to gain confidence and skills in STEM, will be given priority.

As part of the Scholarship Scheme, Morgan Stanley will also launch the English for STEM initiative, offering GGT participants the opportunity to enhance their English language capabilities through workshops with volunteer mentors from Morgan Stanley.

The Morgan Stanley Institute for Inclusion, aligning with the company's overall commitment to diversity and inclusion, aims to create a more equitable society by accelerating an integrated, transparent diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy. The IFI initiative hopes to drive meaningful change both internally and externally. Teachers, parents, and students interested in learning about the 2024 Morgan Stanley Step Into STEM Scholarship can sign up for the mailing list or information sessions here:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScj3t3Q_jcZ-NMfoClxamMJqCPGNUegTfwaaqbPYjVrtIpJoA/viewform