Tiranë, Albania, December 12, 2024 —TechWomen, the U.S. Department of State’s premier international exchange program for women in STEM administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), has announced its expansion into Albania. Albanian women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have the opportunity to join an empowering global network of innovators, changemakers, and mentors for this fully funded, five-week immersion experience taking place in the U.S. next September and October 2025. The program is accepting applicants for its 2025 program from now through January 7, 2025.
Empowering Women through Mentorship and Exchange
Since its launch in 2011, TechWomen has connected global women leaders in STEM fields with counterparts in the San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago, fostering professional development, cultural exchange, and community impact. The program began with 37 Emerging Leaders from seven Middle Eastern and North African countries and has since grown into a vibrant community of 1,233 alumnae from 21 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia, supported by a dedicated U.S. base of more than 1,200 mentors.
This new expansion into Albania reflects TechWomen’s ongoing mission to amplify women’s leadership in STEM by building bridges across cultures and continents. Selected Emerging Leaders will collaborate with mentors at leading U.S. tech companies. They will participate in hands-on projects, workshops, and leadership training designed for the mutual development of skills and networks to drive local and global innovation.
A New Frontier for Innovation in the Balkans
The decision to include Albania follows Secretary Antony Blinken’s announcement at the TechWomen@10 anniversary event in 2022, where he unveiled five strategic program expansions. Albania represents a vital addition to the program, as the country strengthens its position as a growing hub for STEM and entrepreneurship. Investments like the Corridor VIII infrastructure project and initiatives such as the U.S. Department of State’s Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) Innovates the Balkans program have paved the way for the region to thrive as a center for technological progress.
Albanian women in STEM will now have the opportunity to join a legacy of impactful alumnae who have transformed their TechWomen experiences into real-world solutions for challenges in health, education, environmental sustainability, and beyond.
Apply Now and Be Part of a Global Movement
Applications are open through January 7, 2025, for Albanian women in STEM who are ready to embrace this life-changing opportunity. Selected participants will gain access to unparalleled mentorship, build lifelong global networks, and contribute to shaping the future of STEM innovation.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.techwomen.org/participants/eligibility-and-application
About the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) leads the United States’ global efforts to engage individuals through academic, cultural, professional, sports, film, music, and youth exchanges, thereby promoting peace and increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other nations. Through these people-to-people exchanges and programs, the Bureau supports broader U.S. foreign policy goals, including access to education, economic opportunity and equity, and societal inclusion.
About the Institute of International Education (IIE)
The Institute of International Education (IIE) is the leader in designing and implementing international education strategies and program services. We work with governments, policymakers, educators, and employers across the globe to prepare students and professionals for the global workforce and equip them to solve the increasingly complex challenges facing our interconnected world. With support from donors, we also create initiatives that assist students, scholars, and artists whose lives and work are threatened; expand teaching and learning across cultures; and provide opportunities to underserved populations. A not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 16 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,600 higher education partners.
Public Affairs Contacts:
IIE: [email protected]
ECA: [email protected]
