WINS-AID Drives UK-India AI Ties for Women in STEM

The UK-India Workshop on Applied AI and Digital Skills for Women in Women in STEM was held at the University of Aberdeen on 30th June 2026, with the goal of creating a platform for academics, industry experts, and institutional partners from the United Kingdom and India to deepen the collaboration between the two nations and progress in the field of opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The workshop was part of a global project (WINS-AID – Women in STEM through Applied AI and Digital Skills) led by the University of Aberdeen in collaboration with the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), India, and Techno gaze Solutions. The project is funded by the British Council within its Going Global Partnerships – Industry Academia Transnational Education (TNE) Grants program which encourages transnational partnerships between HEIs and industry across the globe.

It was an opportunity for participants to share ideas and best practices on applied artificial intelligence, development of digital skills, transnational education, inclusive curriculum design and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). It also allowed an opportunity for partner institutions to look at possible future collaborations in the areas of education, research, innovation and industry engagement.

Key Highlights:

• UK-India strengthen AI and STEM collaboration through the WINS-AID project
• Workshop promotes AI skills and inclusion for women in STEM
• Partners explore future research and education collaborations

Professor David McGloin, Head of School of Natural and Computing Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, led the workshop with an opening talk. A warm welcome was delivered by Professor Aladdin Ayesh, Vice Dean of the Joint Institute of Data Sciences and AI, focusing on the need for international academic collaborations to tackle global challenges through the application of new technologies.

Academic researchers, industry representatives and project partners from both countries presented on the program. Sessions included the potential of applied AI and digital technologies in making STEM education more effective, better employable, and more inclusive for women in STEM careers. The participants also shared ideas and experiences on how to boost industry-academy cooperation and increase international collaboration for research and innovation.

Dr Riazul Islam, Principal Investigator of the WINS-AID project, spoke about the event and highlighted the importance for the workshop in strengthening partnerships and forging new avenues of collaboration.

The workshop was a great chance for us to further develop our collaborative ties, share ideas and share future collaboration between academia and industry in the UK and India," he added.

One of the major highlights of the event was the presence of the representatives from Vellore Institute of Technology and Techno gaze Solutions, highlighting the project's focus on fostering sustainable collaborations between higher education institutions and industry. The partnership is designed to provide hands-on knowledge of AI and digital skills to women in STEM and promote inclusive education in international institutions.

The workshop is a significant step towards establishing a durable framework for UK-India collaboration in higher education and research and represents a crucial milestone in the WINS-AID project, according to the University of Aberdeen. The project is also in line with the aim of improving transnational education and fostering gender diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) based on innovative instruction and learning.

The workshop demonstrated the UK's and India's collective determination to foster the application of AI, the development of digital skills, and the inclusion of women in STEM careers. The event ended with a discussion about future cooperation and collaboration projects, further strengthening the vision of promoting inclusive sustainable and globally connected education and research.