Funded by the British Council’s Gender Equality Partnerships Grant, a collaborative research project between Bournemouth University (BU) and the University of Port Harcourt (UPH), Nigeria, will address gender disparities in higher education institutions (HEIs) and foster a more inclusive environment.
Dr Anthony Ezenwa, Lecturer in Business and Management at Bournemouth University, will lead the project in collaboration with Professor Heoma Worlu and Professor Olufemi Adesope from the University of Port Harcourt.
Despite growing global awareness of gender equality, significant barriers persist, particularly in HEIs in developing societies like Nigeria. These challenges are most evident in areas such as leadership representation, gender-based violence, work-life balance, and access to opportunities especially within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
The project will focus on developing a comprehensive Gender Equality Policy for UPH. It aims to identify key gender disparities, gather stakeholder perspectives, and co-create actionable policies to foster a more inclusive academic and professional environment.
Special emphasis will be placed on addressing gender disparities in student enrolment, particularly within STEM disciplines, where women remain underrepresented.
University of Port HarcourtThe project seeks to create long-lasting change in gender equality within higher education not only at UPH but also as a replicable model for other HEIs in developing regions.
It will run until December 2025 and has been funded with a total award value of circa £25,000.
Dr Ezenwa highlighted the importance of the project, stating: “This project provides an opportunity to address systemic barriers to gender equality in higher education. By working collaboratively with our partners at UPH, we aim to close critical gaps in leadership, access, and STEM enrolment while fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment.
"By addressing these barriers, the project aims to contribute to broader efforts toward gender equality and inclusivity in higher education systems, particularly in the Global South. The findings will not only benefit UPH but also serve as a model for HEIs in other developing societies.”
Professor Adesope added: “The collaboration between BU and UPH on this project is a great opportunity to open up new vistas for future partnerships, which will help both universities share useful lessons for global North-South collaboration.”
