South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET) will hold engineering career-experience events for middle and high school girls during the summer vacation period.

The ministry and WISET said on Tuesday they will host the 2026 Girls in Engineering Week (G.E.W.) from July 18 to 31 at 11 universities nationwide.

Girls in Engineering Week has been held every year since 2012 for girls in regions that have fewer opportunities for science and engineering education and hands-on experiences than the Seoul metropolitan area. It is now run across four regional blocs nationwide as part of the Regional Women in STEM Talent Development Programme (R-WeSET 2.0).

This year's theme is "Black-and-White Engineers: Convergence Engineering That Connects the Future Beyond Boundaries". Programmes that allow participants to experience and practise promising future science and technology, along with special lectures by experts and mentoring, will be held both online and offline.

In the Daegyeong and Gangwon region, the event will offer laboratory tours by department, including chemical engineering. In the Southeast region, it will include tours of research facilities at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology and a career concert. In the Chungcheong region, it will offer major-experience programmes in medical and life engineering and electronic engineering. In the Honam and Jeju region, it will hold a biosensor engineering exploration contest. This year, Korea National University of Transportation newly joins in the Chungcheong region, and Jeonbuk National University newly joins in the Honam and Jeju region.

Any middle or high school girl interested in science and engineering can participate for free. Detailed regional schedules and how to apply can be found on WISET's W Bridge platform, which supports women scientists and engineers across the life cycle.

Lee Jun-bae (이준배), director general for future talent policy at the ministry, said meeting research sites and science and technology professionals directly at a time when students are thinking about their careers leads to a natural inflow into science and engineering. He said the ministry will expand opportunities for girls to experience STEM regardless of where they live.