An international team from the MEGENDA project, comprising representatives from Belgium, Greece and Nepal, visited Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) on 7 October to discuss gender equality and gender mainstreaming in higher education.

The meeting was held at the conference room of the Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology.

The visiting team shared experiences from their respective countries and exchanged views with university participants on the challenges and opportunities of promoting gender equality in academic institutions.

Discussions focused on strengthening gender mainstreaming practices and creating a more inclusive academic environment, particularly by addressing gender disparities in academic leadership, STEM and institutional decision-making.

Students and university representatives also shared their perspectives on gender equality in academia, creating opportunities for cross-cultural exchange and networking.

Professor Dr Mohammad Jahangir Alam, project manager of the MEGENDA programme at BAU, said, “This is a great opportunity for our students to build international networks, develop leadership skills and broaden their perspectives. It will give them the confidence to engage with people from different countries and play a more active role in promoting gender equality and inclusion in academia.”

The visit was part of MEGENDA (Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Academia), a 36-month project under the European Union’s Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) programme.

The project brings together six higher education institutions from Bangladesh and Nepal and four European partners. It aims to develop and implement Gender Equality Plans (GEPs), build the capacity of academic staff and engage students as “change agents” for gender equality.

The project seeks to promote long-term institutional change and create more equitable, inclusive and gender-sensitive academic environments in Bangladesh and Nepal.