Breaking barriers – Accelerating gender equality in STEMM through collaborative partnerships with women in higher education and research institutions: Insights from India, Brazil and the UK

This paper explores the collaborative efforts between teams from higher education and research institutions in India, Brazil and the UK in promoting gender equality in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM). Recognising the underrepresentation of women in STEMM disciplines, partnerships through two initiatives ‘Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions’ (GATI; India-UK) and the ‘Women in Science UK-Brazil Partnership’ (WiS) aimed to identify, address and overcome barriers hindering the advancement of women in scientific careers. These reflections are on our teams’ formal collaborations which took place between 2021 and 2024 through projects funded by the British Council and the Department of Science and Technology in India. Drawing on Wenger’s Communities of Practice theory, we interpret these transnational partnerships not only as vehicles for institutional change but also as evolving communities where shared learning, mutual engagement and a joint enterprise around gender equality took shape. We discuss the initiatives’ key objectives, the challenges encountered and the successes achieved to date, as well as the broader impact of these partnerships on individuals and institutions across the three countries. By facilitating mentorship, cross-cultural dialogue, policy advocacy and sustained peer learning, the partnerships exceeded expectations by embedding long-term potential for institutional reflection and reform.<br/>