TechWomen is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to advance the status of women and girls around the world and promote development in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to enable women to reach their full potential. The program partners with innovative companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago, Illinois to host emerging women leaders, providing them a unique opportunity for mentorship, professional growth and cultural exchange.
Over the past twelve years, more than 1,000 women from Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Yemen and Zimbabwe have participated in TechWomen.
The Fall 2024 TechWomen application is now open!
The Fall 2024 TechWomen application closes at 09:00AM PST (11:00 PM Almaty time), Friday, January 10, 2024.
TechWomen participants are selected based on the eligibility requirements below. Applications are reviewed by independent selection committees composed of industry leaders and regional experts. Semifinalists will be interviewed by the United States Embassy in Kazakhstan.
Fall 2024 TechWomen Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be women with, at a minimum, two years full-time professional experience in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. Please note that internships and other unpaid work experience does not count toward the two-year professional experience requirement.
- Have, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree/four-year university degree or equivalent.
- Be proficient in written and spoken English.
- Be citizens and permanent residents of Kazakhstan at the time of application and while participating in the program.
- Be eligible to obtain a U.S. J-1 exchange visitor visa.
- Not have applied for an immigrant visa to the United States (other than the Diversity Immigrant Visa, also known as the “visa lottery”) in the past five years.
- Not hold U.S. citizenship or be a U.S. legal permanent resident.
Preference will be given to applicants who:
- Demonstrate themselves as emerging leaders in their chosen professional track through their work experience, volunteer experience, community activities, and education.
- Are committed to return to their home countries to share what they have learned and mentor women and girls.
- Have limited or no prior experience in the United States.
- Have a proven record of voluntary or public service in their communities.
- Have a demonstrated track record of entrepreneurialism and commitment to innovation, especially in environmental and climate-related spheres.
- Demonstrate a willingness to participate in exchange programs, welcome opportunities for mentoring and new partnership development, and exhibit confidence and maturity.
TechWomen encourages people with diverse skills and backgrounds to apply, including individuals with disabilities.
Application Details
Please access the Fall 2024 TechWomen application at
https://www.techwomen.org/participants/eligibility-and-application and https://apply.iie.org/apply/
As a part of the online application, all applicants are required to submit names and contact information for two professional or personal references. References will only be contacted for semifinalist candidates. References should be able to speak to your professional qualifications and/or personal attributes. References may include, but are not limited to, professional contacts (e.g. supervisors, colleagues), academic advisors, or other individuals who can speak to your experiences and qualities related to the TechWomen selection criteria. Applicants are required to submit 8 short, up-to-200 character, essays.
Program Selection Timeline: Important Dates for Participants
January 10, 2024: 2024 program application closes
April 2024: Semifinalists are contacted
May 2024: Final selection decisions are made
September-October 2024: U.S. 2024 TechWomen program
All applicants will be notified of the results of their application.