SARIC Rising Tide

ABOUT SAR100 64 a rising tide : women , voices , and power T he SAR100 3 training program was proposed by WePOWER, through The World Bank. It was offered under SARIC in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok—known for its rigorous academic, research, and experiential outreach programs that prepare graduates for professional success and leadership roles in Asia and beyond. Its genesis was a WePOWER regional meeting in 2022, and discussions that centered around capacitybuildingforwomenengineersacrossseven nations and cultures—a proposal later accepted by DFAT. The result was SAR100, a program designed by the Yunus Center at AIT with the support of an Intra-Regional Working Group convened through the WePOWER Network, with experts advising on curriculum development and training approach. They helped collate training resources and tutors – essentially leveraging comparative expertise from each country to strengthen the regional training program. RWG members included: Dr. Tripta Thakur; Eng. Theja Jayathilaka; Mr. Anwar ul Haq; Mr. M Raihan Akhter; Prof Dr. Mini Thomas; Dr. Sangeeta Singh; Dr. Pierluigi Mancarella; Mr. Chatchai Mawong; Dr. Faiz Shah; Dr. Debabrata Chattopadhyay; Mr. Usman Khalid; Mr. S.K. Soonee. Run as a rigorous eight-month offering, SAR100 used an innovative hybrid multi-modal design with national spokes for engagement and learning. Ten Modules were delivered between July 2023 and February 2024, each with 15 hours of online classes, 7.5hrs of supervised self-study, 1.5hrs of interactive sessions during the capstone, and over 240 hours of teaching time spread over 8 months. Graduates were graded on their work and class participation, with their Master’s level capstone papers reviewed by tutors as a requirement for graduation. The program culminated with a 5-day long capstone week in Bangkok, Thailand at AIT, featuring field visits and in-person tutoring before the graduation ceremony on March 8, 2024. The training was curated closely by international faculty; capstone week showcased publishable quality research by the program’s graduates who connected, and remain connected today through WhatsApp—sustaining bonds built through SAR100. 3 https://www.sar100-yca-asia.com/