Ensuring a Safe Transition from Higher Education to Empowerment for Women in Pakistan through Eliminating Violence and Creating Safe Learning Spaces; Safe4All
A British Council, Going Global Partnerships funded Project
About Safe4all
The significance of women's participation in the economy and decision-making processes within developing countries cannot be overstated. However, it is unfortunate that approximately 60 per cent of women in these countries are engaged in informal sector employment and, sadly, have little human rights. Safe4All is a British Council-funded project between International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan and the University College of Estate Management, UK which aims to strengthen Pakistan's economy and society through capacity building, structural adjustments to drive legal reforms, mending the structural foundation, creating a conducive atmosphere, and raising awareness of the cultural revolution women require, individually and socially.
Project Deliverables
The purpose of the Safe4All project is to minimise violence and to support women's empowerment to ensure equal and meaningful opportunities for women, girls, and minority genders in Pakistan. Notably, to create an environment where gender disparities are diminished, all genders can thrive. This project will aim to collect and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data from Pakistan to understand these issues better. The Objectives are:
Conduct a thorough assessment of gender-based violence in Pakistani higher education institutions, and in doing so, empower educational institutions, community leaders, and local authorities.
Develop the Safe4All Framework to empower Pakistani women graduates to gain insights into organisational, cultural, and social concerns.
Establish connections between Pakistani higher education experts, politicians, and other stakeholder groups for gender equality and safe learning spaces.
Investigate the impact of violence on women's education and careers while advocating for global safe learning spaces and women's empowerment.
Publish the project's findings in peer-reviewed papers, conferences, and a dedicated website to disseminate valuable insights and promote broader awareness of the initiative.
Our Six Funded Projects
In the built environment sector, one of the world’s most significant challenges still prevails – gender equality. UCEM is proud to have won SIX externally funded research grants from the British Council, which will explore this topic and could influence and champion change for gender equality. UCEM is one of the most prominent universities to research gender quality when it comes to externally funded projects, and has now received five research grants from the British Council on this topic. What’s more, through partnerships with other universities based across the world, this project has effectively become a nexus of six countries collaborating to investigate gender equality in detail.
Research is vital and is an answer to many growing issues around us today but it is extremely difficult or sometimes impossible to pursue it without dedicated funds. Therefore, the 6 prestigious and very competitive grants that we have won from the British Council worth £150,000 on the extremely important topic of Gender Equality, specifically in Brazilian, Egyptian, Jordanian, Pakistani and Vietnamese education and industry sectors will ensure the projects are delivered in this complicated area along with capacity building to create awarenessa and wider impact in these countries. These projects will set up consortiums of critical stakeholders who will investigate, collect and analyse data from partner countries, publish outcomes, build the capacity of relevant people, and ensure that this project delivers substantial and lasting change in gender equality.
Please Find more information about our current and previous projects by visitng: https://safe4allpk.com/projects
Data Collection (Active now)
Exploring Critical Barriers that Women Face During Transition from Higher Education to Empowerment in Pakistan Welcome to our initiative dedicated to shedding light on the critical barriers that women encounter as they transition from higher education to empowerment in Pakistan. Despite significant strides in education, women continue to face multifaceted challenges that hinder their journey towards empowerment and gender equality. Understanding these barriers is crucial to creating effective solutions and fostering a more inclusive society.
Therefore, we are committed to documenting the lived experiences of women across Pakistan to identify key areas for intervention and advocacy. By participating in our questionnaire, you contribute to a vital repository of data that amplifies the voices of women and informs evidence-based policies and programs. Your insights will enable us to develop targeted strategies that address the specific needs and challenges faced by women in their pursuit of empowerment. Together, let's pave the way for a more equitable and empowering future for women in Pakistan. Your input matters, and we thank you for being part of this important endeavor.
To access the questionnaire, please click on the button :
or through this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScNdSrPfHfNdjvKeFXdLWje45j2QD2VclMjrXzcGqUYI9uWKQ/viewform
Our Project Team
Find out about our project Team at:
The team consists of UK and Pakistani PIs:
UK PI: Dr Muhamad Qasim Rana
UK Co-PI: Prof Angela Lee
Pakistan PI: Dr Noreen Sehar
Researcher: Ms Nimra Ishfaq
Our Recent Publications (Free Access)
Explore our latest publications, results, and relevant articles in the area of Gender Equality
1. "Exploring the Underlying Barriers for the Successful Transition for Women from Higher Education to Employment in Egypt: A Focus Group Study" Social Sciences 13, no. 4: 195. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13040195
2. "Factors Impacting Women Gaining Leadership Roles in the Jordanian Construction Sector: Architects and Civil Engineers" Buildings 14, no. 4: 944. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14040944
3. "Gender Equality in Architecture and Construction: An Assessment Framework at the Institutional and Sectoral Levels in Jordan" Buildings 14, no. 3: 764. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030764
4. "Sustainable Gender Equality: A Comparative Perspective on STEM Education and Employment in Jordan" Sustainability 16, no. 6: 2273. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062273
