Transferring the experience of Higher Education AcadeMy fellowships from UK to TNE partners: Pathway for EmpoweriNg female academics in the Higher Education Sector in Egypt (TAMKEEN, تمكين)

Project funder

British Council-Going Global Partnerships

Project team

Coventry University team
Dr Rami Ayoubi (PI), GLEA
Prof Megan Crawford (CoI), GLEA
Prof Marina Orsini-Jones (CoI), GLEA
Prof Suzanne Clisby (CoI), GLEA
Ms Susan Bray (CoI), CUMSL

Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT) Egypt team
Prof Rasha Abd El Aziz Youssef (PI), AASTMT
Dr Nourhan Hamdi (CoI), AASTMT
Dr Miran Ismail (CoI), AASTMT

Duration

15 December 2022 to 31 January 2024

Project value

£31,937.16 (total)

£24,999.60 (from British Council)

Project Objectives

The project aims at achieving five main objectives: 1. empowering female academics in the HE sector in Egypt by 2. transferring the UK experience of HE leadership fellowships to Egypt through TNE partner, 3. providing relevant advice to potential candidates, 4. assessing participants to the different levels of the HE academy fellowships and 5. accrediting through CU Fellowship Panel Board, when appropriate, outstanding applicants for the status of PFHEA.

The project also aims at expanding the relationship between the two institutions through joint research and publications.

Impact Statement

The issues of empowerment, equality and social justice are among the core issues that the Egypt's Vision of 2030 focuses on. In the next 3-5 years, the project will contribute to the economic development and social welfare of Egypt as follows:

The HE fellowships will help disseminating a culture of quality education in Egypt. The HE sector in Egypt will be more internationally competitive to other sectors (In line with SDG No 4).

TAMKEEN will help disseminating a culture of good practice, through appreciating the hard-working and active female academics who have a strategic impact on the sector. The project activities will be enhancing a positive work environment and encourage future female academics to pursue their career for better positioning of gender equality, diversity, and justice in the sector (In line with SDG No 16 and 8).

The project is addressing women`s underrepresentation in higher and further education leadership in Egypt. The nature of the project activities will lead to a positive impact on the lives of women and will contribute to gender equality in the long term, as female academics will be ready to take more strategic and senior leadership positions in the sector (In line with SDG No 5 and 10).

TAMKEEN project will bring several benefits to CU/UK, for example: Disseminating the good practices of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE) of accrediting university staff abroad; Developing and enhancing peer to peer collaboration with international partners; Internationalization of research/ joint publications with international partners; and exploring other venues of future international collaboration through joint PhD, and joint master programs.

Outputs

The project aims at achieving the following short-, medium-, and long-term output/outcomes.

Short-term outputs:

• Spreading the importance of continuous learning and development amongst academic staff through fellowships
• Raising awareness of the importance of accrediting the work and efforts of academic staff
• Recognizing the need to support female as leaders in the sector
• Increased agency and self confidence amongst women.

Medium-term outputs:

• Peer to Peer TNE collaboration leading to more strategic TNE content and context
• Disseminating a culture of good practice through appreciating the hard-working and active female academics who created strategic impact on the sector
• Enhancing a positive work environment in the sector for better positioning of gender equality, diversity, and justice
• An improved legal & policy environment supporting gender equality.
• Women develop international outlook and networks.

Long-term outputs:

• Women are empowered to participate in political, social and economic spheres
• Female academics to take more strategic and senior Leadership positions in the sector
• TNEs to be a tool for developing and enhancing the work in partner countries
• The HE sector in Egypt to be more internationally competitive to other sectors in responding to SDGs.