The working group meeting on the implementation of the project "Gender Education for Foreign Students"

Karazin University has had a working group meeting regarding the project "Gender Education for Foreign Students," which has been implemented since February 2023 by the NGO "La Strada - Ukraine" in collaboration with V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University and the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy, Kateryna Levchenko. The project aims to introduce gender approaches into the preparation process of students from Africa studying in Ukraine at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, with the support of UNESCO.

According to the project plan, a sociological study is currently being conducted at the university to assess the presence of gender competencies among foreign students from Africa and lecturers of foreign students as key stakeholders in the Kharkiv region. The project involves the development of educational and methodological materials covering various aspects of gender issues, organizing and conducting training for instructors and students at the Karazin University. Also, it involves creating a course for lecturers working with foreign students to enhance their own gender competencies.

Incorporating the principle of gender equality into the system of higher education is a relevant task, as gender-related challenges also include the aspects of gender interactions between university lecturers and foreign students, where a lack of synchronization in gender perceptions is particularly significant. Moreover, there often exists a considerable gap in gender views between the instructor and the student, regardless of who has a higher level of gender literacy.

The project aligns with Ukraine's state policies and international commitments to ensure gender equality, including UNESCO's recommendations on combating discrimination in education, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Ukrainian Law "On Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men," and reinforces the country's status within the international "Biarritz Partnership" initiative for promoting gender equality.