SARIC Rising Tide

ABOUT SAR100 T he SAR100 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 capacity building for women engineers across seven nations and cultures—a proposal later accepted by DFAT. The result was SAR100, a program designed by AIT with support of the Regional Working Group. The program has been appreciated by all participants for the depth and breadth of its training. Run as a rigorous eight-month offering, it used an innovative hybrid multi-modal design with national spokes for research. The training was curated closely by faculty and showcased publishable quality research at its CapstoneWeek. Students connected, and remain connected today through WhatsApp—sustaining bonds built through the program. 64 a rising tide : women , voices , and power