achieve gender quality
and empower all women and girls
Ambassador of SDG 5
1. Global Engagement for Gender Equality
Global Citizenship Education:
Participated in the 9th Global Capacity-Building Workshop on GCED (July 2024), engaging 49 educators from 28 countries to advance a culture of peace and gender-sensitive education.
Digital Gender Equality:
Delivered a keynote on “Gender Equality and Global Citizenship in the Digital Age” at the RAQMYAT Summer School (University of Vienna, September 2024), addressing gender inclusivity in digital doctoral training.
2. Inclusive Education and Accessibility
UTM Barrier-Free University:
Offers specialized training in physiotherapy for the visually impaired and sign language courses, reinforcing its commitment to inclusivity. Hosted a “UTM Barrier-Free University” awareness day (May 2022) to promote disability inclusion.
Tawhida Ben Cheikh Medical Center:
Provides comprehensive health services, including psychological support and screenings for chronic and mental health conditions, fostering a supportive campus environment.
3. Institutional Projects for Gender Equity
WE4LEAD Erasmus+ Project:
A 36-month initiative (2023–2026) co-led by Aix-Marseille University and the Lebanese University. Aims to increase women’s representation in leadership roles and establish a dedicated unit to address gender-based violence.
DEMOS Project:
Launched a professional Master’s in Democratic Governance and Human Rights to equip graduates with skills for institution-building and democratic transformation.
4. Empowerment Through Training and Entrepreneurship
Online Training Programs:
Offered gender-neutral training for competitive academic examinations (e.g., Assistant Professor in Chemistry), ensuring equal professional advancement opportunities.
Women’s Entrepreneurship:
Hosted the “Women Entrepreneurship: 5-Hour Challenge” workshop at FSEGT, guiding women in transforming ideas into viable businesses.
5. Advocacy and Awareness Campaigns
International Women’s Rights Day (2022):
ENIT organized an awareness day against gender-based violence, featuring roundtables with UNFT, UNFPA, and psychologists.
Women in Science:
A roundtable at ENIT (May 2022) highlighted the achievements of women researchers, addressing challenges and celebrating Tunisia’s leading position in female researcher representation in the Arab world.
6. Recognition of Women’s Contributions
Symbolic Tributes:
Named a university building after Dr. Tawhida Ben Cheikh, the first woman doctor in the Arab world, honoring her legacy in medicine and women’s rights.
Awards and Honors:
Presidential Prize (2019) awarded to the LMBA Laboratory, led by Professor Imene Ouzari. Celebrated student excellence, including Wissal Balti (Presidential Prize, 2022).
7. Data-Driven Progress in Gender Representation
Academic Leadership:
While women hold over 50% of assistant professor roles, their representation drops to 20% at the professorial level.
Doctoral Studies:
Female students outnumber males across all fields, highlighting the potential for future leadership equity.
These initiatives underscore UTM’s holistic approach to advancing gender equality, combining institutional reforms, global partnerships, and community engagement to create an inclusive and equitable academic environment.
African Women in Mathematics Conference (October 6–8, 2025):
The conference “African Women in Mathematics: Challenging Questions” was successfully held in Tunisia. The event convened a diverse group of established and early-career researchers from over [Number, if known] African and international institutions, fostering a dynamic and inclusive environment for scientific dialogue.
The three-day program was structured to balance formal knowledge-sharing with interactive networking. Esteemed plenary lectures set the intellectual tone, while parallel research sessions allowed for the presentation of cutting-edge work across various mathematical disciplines.
A well-attended roundtable sparked meaningful conversation on equity, mentorship, and systemic challenges within the field. The poster session provided a vibrant platform for emerging scholars to present their research and receive direct feedback, fostering new connections and potential collaborations.
The conference achieved its core objectives of promoting scientific exchange, highlighting career opportunities, and strengthening the continental mathematical community.
It served as a significant milestone in elevating the visibility of African women in mathematics and building a more connected and supportive professional network.
8. An Empowering Voice in STEM at UTM
Professor Hanene Boussi:
Vice President of the University of Tunis El Manar, in charge of Sustainable Impact and Rankings, leverages her role as a fellow of the international Women in STEM Network to drive impactful change. Her work centers on building powerful professional networks and organizing strategic conferences that bring together academics, industry leaders, and policymakers.
By fostering these critical connections, she actively works to enhance visibility, create opportunities, and improve the professional landscape for women in science and technology, both within Tunisia and across global platforms. Her efforts exemplify a commitment to translating academic affiliation into tangible, community-wide advancement.
