Women have been at the forefront of many transformational initiatives around the world. Across different countries, histories and cultures women have demonstrated their leadership and the impact they have on their communities and families. This leadership matters even more today than before. Why? Amid the intersecting crises of the global pandemic, the climate emergency, and rising economic inequality and political insecurities around the world, progress on gender equality is faltering and even well-established freedoms and protections are eroding. According to the Sustainable Development Agenda, adopted by UN Member States in 2015, the 2030 deadline set for achievement of gender equality and empowerment for women and girls will not be met. What can we do?
As part of the De Montfort University (DMU) 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) programme, this event will respond to the urgent need for action and commitment towards gender equality. This event will highlight that woman in higher education are at the forefront, designing, deciding and shaping educational efforts that embrace equity and promise equality for future generations.
The event will be hosted by DMU in collaboration with its Transnational Education (TNE) partners: Asia Pacific University in Malaysia, DMU Kazakhstan, and DMU Dubai, UAE. Across these locations and partnerships DMU is collaborating in the delivery of higher education, teaching and research that aims to shape the lives of students and prepare them for the world of work.
The IWD event will take place online, in a live link-up with Asia Pacific University in Malaysia, DMU Kazakhstan, DMU Dubai in the UAE, and DMU in the UK. Women academics based in each of these TNE locations will participate in a session that link them together in inter-campus dialogue, and engagement with the theme of #EmbraceEquity.
The IWD event will highlight the important role universities can play in the education of women and girls, and delivering progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality. The discussion will provide a platform for the sharing of best practices, and support the following objectives:
1) Advancing the role of women as agents of sustainable development
2) Addressing the need to remove barriers for women in terms of achieving career advancement and economic empowerment
3) Women’s leadership and women-led businesses
4) Social entrepreneurship and sustainability – UN Women
5) Shifting mindsets to enable gender equality and women empowerment with a focus on the elimination of stereotypes and cultural barriers
6) Highlight the important role of men as allies in advancing gender equality and women empowerment
7) Encourage the economic empowerment of women with a focus on the role of the private sector primarily and extending to the role of different actors in advancing SDG5
Speakers include:
- Professor Simon Oldroyd - PVC Sustainability
- Dr Manjeet Ridon – Associate Dean International (Education, Sustainability & EDI)
- Dr Shameem Farouk - Executive Vice President & Head, Digital Capability Building Maybank Group
- Meera Eewaran - Senior Lecturer, School of Accounting & Finance, Asia Pacific University
- Dr Abtar Kaur - Professor, Innovative Digital Learning, Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU / APIIT), Malaysia
- Sakina Zafar - Managing Director, EdPeritus UK
- Professor Michael Gallimore - Head of DMU Dubai
- Ayesha Khan - Food-ATM
This event aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 5.