Mozambican academics develop action plans for gender-responsive research and teaching
Maputo, Mozambique — Faculty, researchers, gender focal points and academic leaders from higher learning institutions across Mozambique took part in a workshop on gender integration in research and teaching organised by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) under the PASET-Regional Scholarship Innovation Fund (Rsif)/MozSkills programme. The workshop was held from 3–4 November in Maputo, with the aim of strengthening institutional capacity to mainstream gender in research, curriculum development, and university practices.
The workshop attracted 57 participants (33 women) drawn across five Mozambican institutions were equipped with practical tools to understand gender concepts and their application in research and teaching; apply gender-sensitive methods in research and curriculum development and develop institutional action points for gender mainstreaming.
The first day focused on foundational understanding of gender. Mozambican gender specialist, Dr Sandra Manuel led a reflective session on the meaning of gender, power relations and how inequities manifest in social and academic spaces while Dr Beatrice Muriithi, scientist and gender expert i at icipe, guided participants through why gender matters in scientific research and higher education, sharing best practices and challenges in integrating gender into research design and teaching.
The second day was a shift towards practical application. Dr Michael M. Kidoido, icipe’s Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist, discussed tools and indicators for monitoring and evaluating gender mainstreaming within institutions. Dr Manuel then facilitated a session on implementing gender guidelines, highlighting institutional mechanisms, action plans, accountability structures and the need for clear roles in advancing gender equality.
Strengthened understanding and addressing gender inequality in education
At the end of the workshop, participants felt confident in recognising and addressing issues such as sexual harassment, gender discrimination and unequal access to education. They gained deeper insight into the social, cultural, and economic barriers that limit girls’ and women’s participation in STEM and higher education—such as gender-biased perceptions of certain courses, lack of family support, and inadequate institutional policies.
Enhanced capacity to integrate gender perspectives into institutional practices
Participants gained practical methodologies for integrating gender issues into curricula and institutional policies, as well as tools to support policy implementation and gender mainstreaming. Participants emphasized the need for more inclusive and participatory strategies—such as involving university leaders, government representatives, civil society actors, and students—to ensure that gender equality measures are adopted effectively. The issue of discussing institutional gender policies, strengthening sexual harassment prevention mechanisms, and promoting continuous engagement across all levels of higher education also featured prominently during the training.
Recommendations for sustaining and expanding the training’s impact
Participants called for the creation of safe spaces for dialogue, sharing of successful gender inclusion experiences from other institutions, and follow-up mechanisms to monitor progress. These suggestions reflect a strong commitment to ensuring that gender equality training becomes a sustained, system-wide effort that transforms institutional culture and educational outcomes.
Overall, the workshop marked a significant step toward embedding gender equity within academic and research institutions. The key outcomes now point toward practical improvements in institutional practices and the implementation of comprehensive gender action plans. These include embracing good practices for gender integration, advancing gender sensitization across academic communities, and fostering teacher champions who model and advocate for equality. Participants also emphasised the need to reinforce reporting mechanisms, strengthen mentorship and empowerment programmes for female students, and promote women’s leadership at all institutional levels. Together, these commitments signal a collective movement toward transforming higher education into a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive environment for women and men alike ensuring that gender equality becomes a lived reality within teaching, research, and institutional governance.