DIGITGAL

About DIGITGAL

DIGITGAL, a project under the APU-UNESCO Chair at Asia Pacific University in Malaysia, aligns its efforts with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our focus on SDG 5: Gender Equality drives us to empower women and girls through technology, education, and leadership opportunities, fostering a more inclusive society.

We also support SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being through our GROW pillar, which stands for Girls in Resilience & Overall Wellbeing. Our dedicated Female Lecturer-Mental Health Advocate, talks and workshops on mental health awareness, parent-care programme for female staff, and seminars on cyberpsychology for secondary school students leverage technology to enable women and girls to take charge of their mental health and overall well-being in the digital age.

Moreover, DIGITGAL contributes to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by addressing the digital divide and ensuring equal access to opportunities for women and girls, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Through our programs and partnerships, we aim to create a level playing field and promote social, economic, and political inclusion for all.

DIGITGAL

Vision

The vision of DIGITGAL is to build a visible, inclusive community of high-potential, talented women and girls to lead confidently and competently in their chosen fields and careers. It envisions helping women and girls achieve leadership roles and making a positive impact through their work. 

DIGITGAL

Mission

The mission of DIGITGAL is to promote and provide a platform to strengthen the capabilities of women and girls in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, entrepreneurship, business, sustainability, financial literacy, resilience, research, and other specialized fields. It aims to support the development of skills, knowledge, experience and mindsets that will enable women and girls to excel and take on leadership roles. 

DIGITGAL

Pillars of DIGITGAL

DIGITGAL has 4 main pillars that support its framework: 

• GIST – Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics. This pillar promotes STEM education and careers for women and girls through specialized programs.
• GIFT – Girls in Financial Technology & Literacy. This pillar provides training in FinTech, financial planning, and money management to empower women financially. 
• GEMS – Girls in Entrepreneurship, Management & Sustainability. This pillar nurtures leadership, business, and management skills among women and girls. 
• GROW – Girls in Resilience & Overall Wellbeing. This pillar focuses on building resilience, self-care, and positive mindsets among women and girls. 

All 4 pillars are grounded in GRASP: 

GRASP – Girls in Research and Publication. This emphasizes research, academic writing, and publication opportunities for women and girls across disciplines. 

DIGITGAL

Impact

The APU-UNESCO Chairs’ DIGITGAL initiative has made significant strides in empowering female lecturers and students through its comprehensive four-pillar framework. Each pillar has achieved remarkable success, contributing to the overall impact of the program. The GIST pillar has facilitated numerous STEM-related activities, garnering accolades and fostering a passion for scientific and technological pursuits. The GIFT pillar has imparted essential financial literacy skills, equipping participants with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of the modern economic landscape.

The GEMS pillar has nurtured entrepreneurial mindsets and promoted sustainable practices, providing a platform for innovative ideas and environmental consciousness. Simultaneously, the GROW pillar has prioritized overall well-being, offering support and resources for mental health, resilience, and personal growth. The numerical achievements under each pillar serve as a testament to the initiative’s far-reaching impact and success in empowering the next generation of female leaders.

DIGITGAL

Achievements

Since April 2022, the APU-UNESCO Chairs’ DIGITGAL initiative  has made remarkable strides in empowering female lecturers and students

GIST 

• STEM Workshops to enhance literacy and skills of 62 female lecturers and 384 female students.  
• STEM Projects that involve 180 female lecturers and students. 
• Seminars and talks in STEM involving 673 female lecturers and students.  
• 28 Awards relating to STEM initiatives involving female lecturers and students. 
• STEM Industrial visits involving 48 female lecturers and students.  
• 18 STEM related Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed with collaborative partners. 

GIFT 

• Numerous financial literacy Workshops including Financial Technology (FINTECH) initiatives involving 6 female lecturers and 476 students. 
• Financial literacy and accounting projects involving 45 female lecturers and students. 
• Seminars and talks in financial literacy involving 514 female lecturers and students. 
• 1 National Level Financial Summit hosted. 
• 2 Awards in Accounting & Financial Literacy by female lecturer and student.  
• 8 Financial literacy related industry visits to companies, regulators, and government organizations.  
• 6 Financial literacy related MoA’s signed with collaborative partners.  

GEMS 

• Entrepreneurship: 8 Startup Weekends, 4 Idea Accelerator Programmes, 2 Venture Building Projects involving 27 female lecturers, female APU external mentors and female students. 
• Sustainability: Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, Outdoor Environmental Quality, Environmental Protection, Transport Management projects involving 23 female lecturers and students. 
• Seminars and talks in Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainability involving 355 female speakers, lecturers and students. 
• 3 Entrepreneurship related MoA’s signed, including a global-wide collaboration.  
• C-Level Series involving 3 female speakers and 288 female participants consisting of female lecturers and students. 

GROW 

• 1 Female Lecturer-Mental Health Advocate. 
• 2 Talks/Workshops on Mental Health Awareness for women in conjunction with International Women’s Day 2024.  
• 1 Parent-care programme for female staff on handling challenges in raising children in a digital age.  
• 6 Seminars to secondary school students on cyberpsychology  

DIGITGAL

Community Projects

DIGITGAL

Collaborations