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MAGENDA

MAinstreaming GENDer equality in Academia

Magenda aims to advance gender equality in Asian universities.

GA number: 101179725

Funded by: Erasmus+ Duration: 01/11/2024-31/10/2027

Magenda_logo

Challenge

Gender equality is grounded upon all human beings’ entitlement to ‘equality in’ rights, freedoms and opportunities. Women in all their diversity must have the same entitlement (Nussbaum, 2000). According to a 2022 SHARE study, despite women’s increased enrolment in tertiary education, there are structural and symbolic barriers that prevent the promotion of gender equality, diversity and inclusion (GEDI) in Asian academia.

A gender equality plan (GEP) aims at auditing procedures to identify gender biases, setting mechanisms to correct them and monitoring progress. In the Asian context, it seems that there is need for both institutional change and national actions plans for the support for the implementation of GEPs.

Innovation

MAGENDA promotes gender equality in Asian universities by supporting reforms in governance and inclusion. To achieve this, the project helps institutions develop and implement gender equality plans. It strengthens these efforts through training for university staff and awareness activities for students.

Action

· Exchange best practices on gender equality among Asian Higher Education

At least four online workshops will take place in Asian higher education institutions (HEIs). These sessions will allow partners to share best practices for implementing and monitoring Gender Equality Plans (GEPs).

Develop and strengthen gender equality plans

Building on the workshop exchanges, each Asian university designs or updates a Gender Equality Plan tailored to their institution. A handbook assists universities in monitoring and evaluating their plans.

Training academic staff in monitoring the implementation of the GEP

Six hybrid training sessions help Asian universities set up systems to monitor their GEPs. These include in-person visits for eight staff members per university. Each institution will also pilot its monitoring system for one year.

Digital knowledge hub

The digital knowledge hub provides HEI staff and students with announcements and updates about upcoming events, job opportunities, open educational resources, and best practices on fostering gender equality.

Engaging students in raising awareness events on gender equality

Following the institutional transformation stage, Asian universities organise targeted awareness campaigns to educate and inform the broader community about the importance and benefits of gender equality

Policy roundtables to promote GEP

Using the World Café format, the policy roundtables bring together key policy actors to explore how to improve GEP implementation in higher education.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Project Partners

KMOP, Greece
Pokhara University, Nepal (Coordinator)
Kathmandu University, Nepal
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh
Bangladesh Open University, Bangladesh
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh
Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgum
Readlab, Belgium
University of Peloponnese, Greece

 

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