On 12 June 2025, a dedicated Workshop on the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) was held with the University of Applied Sciences in Ferizaj (UASF), bringing together academic and administrative staff, as well as gender experts, to co-develop a clear roadmap for advancing gender equality within the institution.

The workshop began with opening remarks from Prof. Dr. Agron Bajraktari, Rector of UASF, who reaffirmed the university’s strategic commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable academic environment. This was followed by an insightful address from Ms. Louise Sperl, Head of Projects and Human Rights & Gender Equality Expert at WUS Austria, who shared Austrian expertise and best practices in the field of gender mainstreaming in higher education.

The workshop was led and facilitated by Ms. Ardiana Gashi, Gender Equality Expert and SHER Project Consultant, who guided participants through a structured and interactive program.

Key components of the workshop included:

• A baseline assessment analyzing gender-disaggregated data related to staff, students, and academic programs at UASF
• A participatory SWOT analysis, where working groups identified institutional strengths, gaps, external opportunities, and risks in achieving gender equality
• The joint formulation of a vision, along with strategic and specific objectives for UASF’s Gender Equality Plan
• A session on costing and budgeting, aimed at estimating resources and setting financial parameters for effective implementation

The workshop aligned with the thematic priorities of Horizon Europe, addressing areas such as work-life balance, gender representation in leadership, inclusive recruitment and career development, integration of gender perspectives in curricula and research, and measures to prevent gender-based violence and harassment.

This initiative reflects UASF’s strong institutional will to embed gender equality into its policies. The next steps will focus on finalizing the Action Plan and establishing mechanisms for its implementation, coordination, and monitoring.