On March 19, 2025, the final event of the four-year project "Universities and Gender Mainstreaming (UNIGEM)" took place at Hotel Hills in Ilidža. The project was implemented by the TPO Foundation in collaboration with 19 universities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom.
This event brought together representatives from the academic community, donors, and researchers to summarize the project's results and highlight its significance in integrating a gender perspective into higher education.
Over four years, UNIGEM has led to substantial changes in the region's universities. Gender Action Plans were adopted, gender equality committees and centers were established, new courses and modules were developed, and summer and winter schools were organized. More than 500 training sessions were conducted for students, teaching staff, and administrative personnel. Additionally, over 20 books were published to support teaching processes, and research conducted within the project contributed to a better understanding of gender equality in academia.
Speakers at the event included Prof. Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak, Director of the TPO Foundation; James Hamilton Harding, Deputy British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina; Prof. Dr. Arma Tanović, Vice-Rector of the University of Sarajevo; Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Sarajevo; and Prof. Dr. Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, Rector of the University of Rijeka.
Prof. Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak emphasized the importance of continuous efforts in promoting gender equality in academia, stating that integrating a gender perspective requires not only new curricula but also a deeper transformation of collective consciousness and power structures within educational institutions.
Deputy British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, James Hamilton Harding, reaffirmed the UK's ongoing support for projects promoting gender equality and strengthening the academic community in this area.
As part of the event, 19 short videos summarizing the project’s outcomes were presented, along with the final UNIGEM research on gender equality in universities.
Prof. Dr. Jasna Kovačević highlighted that UNIGEM leaves a lasting legacy in the academic community through the structures, knowledge, and network of researchers dedicated to advancing this field. "The established gender equality committees and centers are not merely administrative bodies—they are spaces for dialogue, critical reflection, and empowerment."
The final UNIGEM event served as an opportunity to review achievements and lay the groundwork for continued efforts to improve gender equality in higher education. Although the project has formally concluded, its mission continues through the academic community, researchers, and institutions committed to shaping universities as spaces of knowledge, critical thinking, and social change.
International Burch University played an active role in the consortium and was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation from the TPO Foundation.
Additionally, at our university library, Prof. Dr. Ceylani Akay, a follow-up study was presented in the form of the book Echoes of Change: Advancing Gender Equality in Higher Education in the Balkans, authored by Zilka Spahić Šiljak, Jasna Kovačević, and Anita Dremel, and available and available on the website.
The book presentation was led by our esteemed colleague Merima Ibranović-Salihović, coordinated by our university representative, Assist. Prof. Dr. Adem Olovčić.
International Burch University remains committed to gender equality and justice. We are grateful to have been part of this significant project.