2023, April 12
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NU and UNDP Sign the Memorandum of Understanding
2023, April 12
Share this articleNU and UNDP in Kazakhstan join efforts to promote gender equality in academic settings through alliance.
On April 11, NU and the United Nations Development Programme in Kazakhstan signed a memorandum of understanding which aims to create an alliance of universities to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. The alliance will bring together faculty members, researchers, and students to share best practices, conduct research, and promote gender equality.
NU is expanding its initiatives to combat gender inequality in the academic community and society in consultation with leading organizations. Cooperation with UNDP is aimed at increasing the awareness of the Kazakh society about these problems and ways to prevent them.
NU has been active in generating research related to equity and the advancement of women in all areas, including education. Research projects conducted by the scholars of NU Consortium of Gender Scholars (GenCon) have examined topics ranging from women in STEM and the barriers to their advancement and gender representation in Kazakhstan's educational materials for school children.
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However, in Kazakhstan more than half of the scientific community in Kazakhstan is represented by women, low representation of women among top managers demonstrate systemic dysfunction. By using a gender lens in higher education management and identifying the root causes of such disparities in a timely manner, universities can benefit from the untapped potential of a previously invisible cohort of women.
"NU has been spearheading educational reform over the past 13 years. We believe that now is the time to broaden our understanding of the structural dimensions that underlie gender inequality. We need to think about what gender equality means in the context of Kazakhstan taking into account the society’s sentiments towards gender issues. It has to be a gradual process,” said NU President Shigeo Katsu.
The alliance aims to leverage the collective resources and expertise of interested higher education institutions in Kazakhstan to jointly develop a long-term roadmap for embedding gender equality principles into strategies and policies.
"The university is the place where future leaders, innovators and influencers are educated. By promoting gender equality at the university, we set the tone for the rest of society, which ultimately has a positive impact on the economy," said UNDP Resident Representative Katarzyna Wawiernia.
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In collaboration with UN Women, Dr. Jenifer Lewis and Dr. Anna CohenMiller, previously conducted a Gender Audit of the curriculum at NU to identify specific areas for improvement in NU curriculum and overall organizational structure and management as it relates to gender equity. “Many of the findings of our research are in line with the planned work of this alliance and we are eager to lead its development for our own university and Kazakhstan's higher education community,” Dr. Jenifer Lewis said.
The collaboration between NU and UNDP began back in 2020, when the first joint meeting on gender equality and harassment prevention was held. As a result of this collaboration, students, faculty, and administrative staff discussed the action plan to create equal opportunities and a safe working environment.
UNDP has been supporting public institutions and private organizations worldwide in their gender mainstreaming efforts since 2019 through the Gender Seal programme. Gender mainstreaming is woven into all dimensions of UNDP's work, e.g., project activities, communications, recruitment, operations, etc.
UNDP and NU have agreed to develop an action plan and create a regular platform open to all interested universities to showcase the best approaches to gender mainstreaming in the academic environment.
