International Federation of University Women

News & Announcements

Women and Employment

If you missed the last IFUW e-mail discussion on “Women & Employment: working in a globalized world”, you can read the summary covering the formal and informal economy and possible solutions for creating a more fair system of globalization here.

FUWA Conference

The Federation of University Women of Africa (FUWA) will be holding a conference on 16-19 July 2009, in Lagos, Nigeria. The theme of the Conference will be "Girl-Child Education in Africa". Specific sub-themes will include: School Enrolment of Girls in Africa; School Retention of Girls in Africa; African Governments'  Involvement in Girl Child Education in Africa; and UN Agencies', Civil Society's, NGOs' and Universities' Role in Girl Child Education in Africa.

Papers will be presented at the Conference. Abstracts can be submitted to Dr. Roseline I. Okorji. The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 30 May 2009. Abstracts should not be more than 300 words.

IFUW 2008/2009 Programme Survey

The IFUW 2008/2009 Programme Survey had the aim to evaluate existing programmes and identify new ones that will enhance IFUW through international advocacy, action by national federations and associations (NFAs) and individual action. The survey (Appendix I) was open for two months (5 November 2008 to 7 January 2009), during which time 179 IFUW members participated. Forty-four percent (78) completed the entire survey, while 56% (101) completed only some of the questions. To read more: Introduction letter from the working group, Dr Penn's analysis and findings , Thank you letter and Appendix II for more statistics.

As a result of the Survey, the IFUW Board and SWC have adopted a new process for developing the next PfA, which will give NFAs and members a greater voice. In April 2009, the SWC will issue a first call for programme development input from NFAs and members. This will be followed by two on-line discussions to help identify priority issues for IFUW's work. Several sessions at the 2010 Conference in Mexico City will offer participants an opportunity to define programme priorities further before the adoption of a new PfA. The new PfA material will then be developed following the Conference based on input from this process. More information will be available soon.

IFUW Joins European Initiative to Strengthern the Role of Women in Science

IFUW has joined the Hellenic Association of University Women (SEE) and other partners in submitting a multi-faceted project proposal to the European Union for funding. The project seeks to strengthen the role of women in scientific research and scientific decision-making. If accepted, the project will open a Europe-wide dialogue looking at factors limiting the participation of women in research and research decision making. Proposed activities include public events to bring women scientists close to the general public, networking and the development of guidelines for a gender policy for research centres and universities. IFUW's contribution will be to organize a session during the 2010 Conference where outcomes from the project can be shared. The proposal is currently under consideration by the European Commission. Willemijn van der Meer, President of the University Women of Europe, is our liaison. The Hellenic Association, IFUW's former affiliate in Greece, is in the process of re-affiliating to IFUW.

Women: Building Sustainable Futures

In November, IFUW held an online discussion on women and sustainable futures. Contributions showed that sustainability is more than just an ecological issue. It links ecological, social AND economic interests. The goal of sustainability is to reach “a good balance between the 3 p’s: people, planet and profit”. In general, contributors agreed that it is very important to understand and to be aware of the consequences of our actions and that with education we can reach a more sustainable life on earth. Children are the future, so it is necessary that they learn the importance of sustainability from the beginning. However, the situation is so urgent, that we alread now have to ‘educate’ all adults on sustainablity, politicians and other decision makers, including the media, who, in return, have a responsibility to ‘educate’ society. The discussion also looked at ways individuals, IFUW and NFAs can promote and practice sustainable futures. Read more: a summary of the outcomes and the full report.

Travel to Indial & Nepal with VGIF

The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund (VGIF) is pleased to announce a Friendship Tour to India and Nepal in November 2009 as part of its celebration of 40 years of funding projects for women and children around the world. The tour will include visits to Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan and Calcutta, as well as an optional tour to Kathmandu and Chitwan in Nepal. The tour will be highlighted by a visit to Project Five-O Calcutta, one of the earliest VGIF projects. This is a unique opportunity to foster cultural exchange and join hands to women around the globe, sharing ideas and dreams in a mission to invest in women worldwide. Please visit the trip website for travel and pricing information.

At the end of this tour, in Calcutta, the Indian Federation of University Women’s Association (IFUWA) would like to invite you to an All India Conference on "Women, Water and Food Security". Please read the Welcome Letter from the IFUWA President.

Discuss Sustainability

The IFUW Environment Network is exploring sustainability, looking specifically at the role that universities (and all educational institutions) could and should play in the move towards global sustainability. The Network Moderator, Jessica North, invites other members to join and share positive examples of interdisciplinary communication and interaction on sustainability from your own institutions. To join the Environment Network and this discussion please or fill out the subscription forum on the IFUW Networks page.

Empowering Women Poster Competition

Do you love to create? Would you like to see one of your creations made into posters and postcards used to promote girls and women? If so, we want to hear from you!

IFUW is pleased to announce its Empowering Women Poster Competition. The competition seeks to use art to raise awareness of the challenges facing women and girls in accessing education and leadership positions in today’s world. Read more about the competition and find out how to participate.

Opportunities for IFUW Members

NEW! Lorenzo Natali Prize for Journalists

The European Commission has officially launched the 17th edition of the Lorenzo Natali Prize, inviting all the journalists committed to the fight for the Human Rights, Democracy and the Development to take part in the Prize. The Lorenzo Natali Prize concerns journalists working for media in one of the five following regions: Africa, Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and the Arab World and the Middle East. It rewards journalists for their work defending democracy and the Human rights within the Developing World. For the first time in 2008, the Lorenzo Natali Prize also involves radio and television journalists.

Each applicant can deliver ONE journalistic work or ONE extract of a journalistic work printed or aired between January 1st 2008 and June 15th 2009. The seventeen laureates of the Lorenzo Natali Prize will be guests of honour of the European Commission during a stay in Sweden. Each laureate will receive a trophy and a prize. Overall 60,000 euros of prize will reward the best works. Deadline 30th of June. For further information or to apply, feel free to visit the website : www.nataliprize2009.eu

Vacancies at the UN

The official website for UN vacancies is: https://jobs.un.org/Galaxy/Release3/vacancy/vacancy.aspx?lang=1200 . In order to apply, please complete the official application process by following the links which will take you straight into the online job application. All other places advertising UN jobs are usually hoax.

European summer program for young graduate women on peaceful communication
Portugal, July 17 - 22, 2009

LIEN is organizing an international summer program on peaceful communication in Portugal, July 17-22. LIEN is a European Network of young graduate women. Women are key-elements in societal change so needed in the economic, social, scientific, cultural and political fields. The way they fulfill their roles in society is decisive for the empowerment of all women of different socio-economic, racial, religious and cultural backgrounds. There is a broad range of worthwhile peaceful (non-violent) communication theories and practices in the world of politics, religion and business. Women especially can have a key-role to develop the theory and practice of those methods.

The themes and subthemes explored during the programe will be mostly based on the expertise of the participants. The modalities of working will not only be reflection and discussion but also workshops enabling creative expressions, such as movement, dancing, painting etc. The diverse elements of the program will be connected by the book "Conflict, crisis, catharsis" by Friedrich Glasl.

For information please contact:

• Mirjam Fokkema, fokkema.mirjam@gmail.com, 0031 6 43076793 or
• Ine van Emmerik, info@extravaleren.nl, 0031 30 2992895

PhD positions in Neuroscience

There are two PhD positions available at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands; one in the field of Cognitive Neuroscience, the other in the field of Computational Neuroscience. Both positions are financed by grants that only allow international (non-Dutch) students to be employed. For more information and who to apply visit www.signalanalysis.net.

Fellowships for Threatened Academics: Professors, Researchers and Lecturers

The IIEs Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF) award fellowships for threatened academics living and working in danger in their home country. Professors, researchers and lecturers from any country or field may apply. Fellowships are awarded for visiting academic positions ranging from 3 months to 1 calendar year. Awards are issued for up to US $25,000, plus individual health coverage. Applications are accepted at any time. Non-emergency applications will be considered according to the following schedule:

• Summer 2009: Applications received by June 15th; decision by July 31st.
• Fall 2009: Applications received by September 15th; decision by October 31st.

To apply, please download the information and application materials from: Scholar Rescue Fund - For Scholars

Upcoming Events

30 June

Deadline for submitting abstracts for Interdisciplinary Seminars for the 2010 Conference in Mexico

6 - 8 July

UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education: "The New Dynamics of Higher Education", Paris.

16-19 July

The Federation of University Women of Africa (FUWA) Conference: Girl-Child Education in Africa (Lagos, Nigeria)

20 July - 7 August

Human Rights Council: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), New York. IFUW countries examined: Argentina, Denmark, Japan, Spain, Switzerland

IFUW Blog

IFUW Bulletin Board

The Bulletin Board is an interactive website that members can visit to share knowledge and information, and also to forge links of friendship with other members.

If you are not yet registered to use the IFUW Bulletin Boards, please register so that you can take part in the discussions. If you have any difficulties registering, or if you have already registered and require assistance, please .

Below are direct links to the discussions that are currently taking place on the Bulletin Board. Click on the title of any discussion to access it. Once there, you will be able to read the comments of others and add your own.