The Forum for African Women Educationalists Zimbabwe (FAWEZI), in partnership with Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) and with support from the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI), convened the inception meeting for the PROGEN-Hub for STEM project — Promoting Gender Responsiveness in Higher Education: An Integrated Mentorship Network and Community-Centred Support Hub Approach.

The meeting marked an important step towards strengthening gender-responsive Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning environments and addressing gender-based violence (GBV) across Zimbabwe’s higher education sector.

The 18-month project will engage 11 higher education institutions (HEIs), combining research, gender-transformative mentorship, psychosocial support, participatory engagement and digital innovation to strengthen institutional responses to GBV and promote safe, inclusive learning environments.

Strengthening Institutional Responses to Gender-Based Violence

The inception meeting brought together representatives from FAWEZI, BUSE, participating universities and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development (MHTEISTD), the Tertiary Education Services Council (TESC) and the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE).

The engagement established a shared understanding of the project’s objectives, implementation approach and institutional responsibilities, while providing a platform to discuss practical arrangements for implementation.

Discussions focused on the project’s Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) methodology, the development of a Gender-Transformative Digital (GTD) Support Hub and an integrated Mentorship Network. Participants also examined safeguarding and participant protection, ethical considerations, risk mitigation, communication and reporting, and the first-quarter implementation plan.

These components will support efforts to understand the experiences and challenges faced by students, strengthen access to support and generate evidence that can inform institutional responses to GBV.

Integrating Research, Mentorship and Digital Innovation

PROGEN-Hub for STEM adopts an integrated approach that brings together research and practical support to address gender inequalities and GBV in STEM learning environments.

Through community-based participatory research, the project will engage relevant stakeholders in generating evidence and identifying context-responsive solutions. The integrated Mentorship Network will provide a platform for gender-transformative engagement, while the proposed digital support hub will contribute to efforts to strengthen access to information and support.

By combining these approaches with psychosocial support and safeguarding measures, the project seeks to address both the institutional and social factors that affect students’ safety, participation and experiences in STEM faculties.

Importantly, the initiative places evidence generation at the centre of efforts to inform sustainable institutional and policy change, recognising that effective responses must be grounded in the experiences and needs of those affected.

Building Safer and More Inclusive STEM Faculties

Gender-based violence and discrimination can undermine students’ dignity, well-being and ability to participate fully in higher education. Creating safer learning environments therefore requires coordinated institutional action, accessible support mechanisms and a commitment to gender equality.

Through PROGEN-Hub for STEM, FAWEZI and BUSE, with support from SVRI, are working with higher education stakeholders to strengthen gender responsiveness, promote inclusive learning environments and support institutional approaches that prevent and respond to GBV.

The project’s overarching ambition is to ensure that young women and men can learn, participate and thrive in STEM faculties free from gender-based violence and discrimination. By combining research, mentorship, psychosocial support and digital innovation, PROGEN-Hub for STEM seeks to contribute to lasting improvements in student well-being and gender-responsive higher education in Zimbabwe.