Bahir Dar University Holds Workshop to Strengthen Gender Policy and Support Institutional Reform Journey
Bahir Dar University (May 22/2018)
A workshop aimed at further strengthening, validating and improving the gender policy guidelines of Bahir Dar University was held today at the University’s Wisdom Hall. The workshop was organized in collaboration with the BDU-IUC Project and the Directorate of Multi-Sectoral Affairs.
This important forum was attended by senior university leaders, academic deans, members of the Women Researchers Forum and Women Networking Forum, student representatives, gender experts, group leaders and other invited guests.
The Director of the Directorate of Multi-Sectoral Affairs, Dr. MuluGojjam Wondifraw, who delivered the welcome speech at the opening ceremony, explained the major activities being carried out by the Directorate. She mentioned the opening of a daycare center for female employees in the university to enable mothers to participate in their work responsibilities without fear and freely as a major achievement.
She also explained that in order to strengthen the educational participation and effectiveness of female students, support for educational and hygiene materials, direct financial support, and provision of special educational resources, cleaning materials and laundry equipment for students with disabilities have been facilitated
Bahir Dar University President Dr. Mengesha Ayene stressed that the gender policy should enhance institutional characteristic as the university transitions to a fully autonomous research institution. The President added, “Beyond infrastructure development, fostering diversity of thought is the main feature of an autonomous research university.”
Dr. Mengesha, who stated that the university was the first in the country for most of its graduates to pass in the recently held National Exit Exam, proudly noting the satisfactory improvement in the results of female students in particular. Stating that this success is the result of the continuous support provided by the Directorate of Multi-Sectoral Affairs, she set a direction for the work to continue to be strengthened.
Dr. Tesfaye Shiferaw, Project Manager of Bahir Dar University IUC, gave an explanation about the project activities. He stated that the BDU-IUC project is carrying out significant work in the areas of research, capacity building and international academic cooperation in collaboration with Belgian universities.
The project is particularly focused on strengthening research culture and capacity, building modern laboratory infrastructure and increasing human resource capacity, which is playing a major role in comparing the quality of education of the institution with international standards.
At the conclusion of the workshop, a wide-ranging discussion was held on policy guidelines, legal implementations around affirmative actions, and research literature related to reproductive health and gender issues. Detailed responses and explanations were provided by experts to the questions and comments raised by the participants.
The workshop was a great resource for the university’s journey to create a more inclusive, equitable and inclusive learning and working environment for all and concluded successfully.
