IKG Blog

On 26 May 2026, the IKG welcomed a delegation of 19 female researchers from the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) for an exchange on gender equality in academia. The visiting scholars represented a wide range of disciplines, including psychology, law, education, management, environmental chemistry, and human geography. Participants from Bielefeld University included representatives from the Gender Equality Office, the International Office, the Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, the Faculty of Educational Science, as well as various researchers.

The program featured two short presentations on the situation of women in academia and existing equality measures in both countries, followed by an open discussion. Founded in 1992, OUT is the largest public institution for open and distance learning in East and Central Africa, with 32 regional centers and more than 60 academic programs. While women are relatively well represented at the lecturer level, they remain underrepresented in senior academic and executive positions. The Tanzanian delegation highlighted several structural challenges, such as limited leadership development opportunities, restricted access to mentorship and networks, work-life balance pressures, and promotion systems that prioritise research output despite unequal access to resources and funding.

Bielefeld University’s Gender Equality Office presented the German framework, where gender equality is legally mandated and institutionally embedded. At Bielefeld University, more than 80 gender equality actors are active across faculties and institutes, and gender equality is established as a central goal in all of the university’s important documents. Current areas of work include mentoring programs for junor researchers, increasing the visiblity of female scholars and supporting researchers and students with family and care responsibilities.

The discussion highlighted both shared challenges and contextual differences and identified potential areas for future cooperation.