What is known about women’s career progression to STEM research leadership in Indonesia? A systematic review

This article comprises a systematic review of the literature on women leaders’ career progression to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) research leadership in Indonesia published from 2000–2024. It aims to map the field and summarise the evidence base to date and provides a ‘go to’ reference point for a broad range of stakeholders to fill a gap in the literature around women’s career progression to STEM research leadership in Indonesia. There are 18 items included in the review which includes peer reviewed and grey literature, with the majority from the grey literature such as reports, conference proceedings and theses, rather than journal articles. The reviewed items highlight how, despite government initiatives to strengthen girls’ participation in STEM, there remains an under-representation in higher education. This is due to macro, meso and micro influences, including stereotypes and systemic barriers that discourage girls and women from pursuing STEM careers. Even when they do not slip through the ‘leaky pipeline’ and pursueSTEM careers, they often face limited opportunities, lower-level roles, and institutional challenges hindering their advancement to leadership roles. There are responses and enablers to support women with these barriers, including networks, training and mentoring which are part of a bottom-up movement to change mindsets. However, these enablers need to be part of a multi-level response which includes national infrastructure, funding, local development plans, institutional policies and commitments in addition to shifting mindsets of where women can work and what they can achieve in STEM leadership careers in Indonesia.This article comprises a systematic review of the literature on women leaders’ career progression to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) research leadership in Indonesia published from 2000–2024. It aims to map the field and summarise the evidence base to date and provides a ‘go to’ reference point for a broad range of stakeholders to fill a gap in the literature around women’s career progression to STEM research leadership in Indonesia. There are 18 items included in the review which includes peer reviewed and grey literature, with the majority from the grey literature such as reports, conference proceedings and theses, rather than journal articles. The reviewed items highlight how, despite government initiatives to strengthen girls’ participation in STEM, there remains an under-representation in higher education. This is due to macro, meso and micro influences, including stereotypes and systemic barriers that discourage girls and women from pursuing STEM careers. Even when they do not slip through the ‘leaky pipeline’ and pursueSTEM careers, they often face limited opportunities, lower-level roles, and institutional challenges hindering their advancement to leadership roles. There are responses and enablers to support women with these barriers, including networks, training and mentoring which are part of a bottom-up movement to change mindsets. However, these enablers need to be part of a multi-level response which includes national infrastructure, funding, local development plans, institutional policies and commitments in addition to shifting mindsets of where women can work and what they can achieve in STEM leadership careers in Indonesia.