Ms. Robeela Bangash, CEO of HRDN, delivered a keynote address at the “Less Talk, More Action: An International Conference on Changing the Course of Women’s Academic Leadership,” held from October 17th to 19th, 2023. The conference was organized by the Islamic International University Islamabad (IIUI) under the project titled “Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Challenges and Opportunities for Women Academic Leaders in Pakistani Universities,” funded by Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC).
In her keynote speech, Ms. Bangash emphasized the pivotal roles of both government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in advancing gender equality in academic leadership. She stressed the responsibility of governments to craft and enforce policies that ensure equal representation and allocate financial resources to support initiatives promoting women's leadership in academia. Governments, she noted, can incentivize educational institutions to actively pursue gender equity.
Simultaneously, NGOs play a vital role by:
Advocating for policy reforms
Delivering training and mentorship programs
Conducting research
Building professional networks for women in academia
This collaborative approach between governments and NGOs is crucial for reshaping the academic landscape, empowering women, and ensuring equitable access to leadership roles across higher education institutions.
