Growing up in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, Dirce was encouraged by her parents to dream big—to become a doctor like her cousins or an engineer like her sister. In the early days of Timor-Leste's independence, engineering was more than just a career—it was a way to help build the nation's future.
Dirce decided she wanted to be part of this future, pursuing her undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering in Indonesia before returning home to work at a telecommunications company. But she didn't stop there. Through the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM scholarship programme, she completed her master's degree in Engineering Business Management at the University of Warwick in the UK.
However, the journey wasn't always easy. When Dirce first arrived at Warwick, she faced a new challenge: critical thinking. "I was used to learning by memorisation," she explains. "But here, I had to analyse, compare sources, and question what I was reading. It was difficult at first, but once I learned to think critically, my marks improved—and I realised this skill is valuable everywhere, even when reading social media."
As a wife and mother to a young daughter, Dirce balanced her studies with family life, proving that women can excel in STEM at any stage of life. Now back in Dili, she's looking forward to applying her new skills, particularly in environmental and educational fields, while inspiring other young women to follow their STEM dreams.
"Women's skills are often undervalued," Dirce says. "But we can succeed in STEM. I want to be proof of that for the next generation."
Through role models like Dirce, girls across Timor-Leste are seeing that engineering isn't just for boys—it's for anyone with curiosity, determination, and a passion for building the future.
Dirce's education was supported by a scholarship developed by the British Council and funded by UK FCDO under the ASEAN–UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (ASEAN–UK SAGE) Programme — a flagship cooperation programme of the UK Mission to ASEAN. The scholarship programme empowers women to break barriers and advance in STEM fields.