Last Updated on Friday, July 28, 2023 by HEET Website Team
Through HEET Project support, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) has devised a comprehensive plan to address gender gaps, with a focus on two key areas of action:
- Construction or rehabilitation of infrastructure and
- Building capacity of academic staff and university leadership.
These planned activities emphasize the deliberate implementation of measures to reduce gender gaps and combat gender-based violence.
A crucial aspect of the initiative is the improvement of facilities to cater to students with special needs.
The university aims to make lecture theatres wheelchair-accessible by adding facilities to the washrooms and remodeling dormitories to accommodate the requirements of these students. This approach encourages students with special needs to pursue courses that suit them at SUA. Additionally, curriculum development will prioritize the creation of virtual learning facilities, ensuring a conducive learning environment for all gender groups, including those with special needs by providing easily accessible materials.
Inclusivity is a priority, and the initiative aims to provide female faculty members with better opportunities to advance in their careers. By offering support for further studies at the PhD level, SUA intends to accelerate their professional growth and serve as inspiration to others.
To embed gender issues into all university activities, SUA will take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment and uphold ethical and moral values. The university also recognizes the importance of addressing health concerns, including HIV/AIDS, communicable, and non-communicable diseases.
To promote gender equity in student enrollment, SUA plans to strengthen the capacity of the Gender Unit and the Gender Desk. The university is committed to being an equal opportunity institution and will declare this in its admission advertisements.
In response to the concerning trend of suicides, SUA will further enhance the Social Counseling Unit for students and staff. This unit will provide essential support to individuals facing social challenges that may impact their overall well-being and conduct at the university.
Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), non-communicable diseases, and HIV/AIDS is a priority for SUA. The university will actively develop and review institutional mechanisms to effectively handle these issues.
In summary, the proposed measures for addressing gender gaps at SUA include:
- Strengthening the capacity of the Gender Promotion Unit/Desk.
- Establishing a Social Counseling Unit to support students with social problems.
- Developing and reviewing institutional mechanisms to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and
- Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), and HIV/AIDS.