Towards a more gender sensitive and inclusive academic culture in Ethiopia. (ET2019JOI014A101)

The objective of this VLIR-UOS JOINT project is to develop a gender sensitive academic culture in Ethiopia by increasing the number and improving the skills of young (female) researchers, by organizing three Joint Doctoral Summer Schools (JDSS), based on the three ‘fix’-strategies: fix the number of women, fix the institutions and fix the knowledge. A consortium of three Ethiopian Universities, Arba Minch University,  Bahir Dar University and Mekelle University, with KU Leuven and Stellenbosch University will organize the JDSS each successive year at a different location, aimed at both novice male and female promising researchers, belonging to the academic staff. The JDSS will include gender sensitivity training for candidates of both genders to implement at their home institutions as part of a gender mainstreaming strategy. The PhD supervisors and management of each university will be involved in some specific modules to create a gender-sensitive environment at their university. A final goal is to create a formal and informal network of female academic staff through the programme alumni, to support and encourage sustained relationships and even to scale up the best lessons to other young universities in the long run.