ReadLab

✨ TPM Flashback: MAGNETISE in Durban, South Africa

On 18-20 February 2026, the MAGNETISE consortium gathered in Durban, South Africa, for the project’s face-to-face Kick-off Meeting.

MAGNETISE is a three-year initiative designed to assist Higher Education Institutions across Sub-Saharan Africa in formulating and implementing gender equality policies. The project unites five African universities and four European partner institutions.

During this three-day meeting, MAGNETISE partners reflected on gender inequality in higher education, discussed institutional transformation, and agreed on the next steps for developing Gender Equality Plans and capacity-building activities. The meeting also highlighted the importance of inclusive leadership, data-driven reform, gender-responsive policies, and shared responsibility in mainstreaming gender equality across Sub-Saharan African academia. The program concluded with a cultural study tour celebrating South African heritage.

As ReadLab, we are proud for contributing to this important initiative alongside our partners and in supporting gender equality in South African and Ugandan universities.

A special thank you to the Centre for Success in SciencUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal for hosting the informative sessions & study tour and for their coordination throughout the project implementation.

🔗 Learn more about the project:�https://magnetise-project.eu/�

An incredible conclusion to our mobility! A huge thank you to the Athens University of Economics and Business - Οικονομικό Παν. Αθηνών and the Bodossaki Foundation - Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη. 🎓🏛️

On our final day, we bridged academic excellence with civic legacy. Thank you to Associate Professor Irini Nikandrou at AUEB for an exceptional discussion on mentoring, and gender-sensitive approaches to youth empowerment and, to the Bodossaki Foundation, for sharing your deep expertise in driving long-term social impact. Together, you provided the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable capacity-building week! 🚀🌟

🔮 Looking ahead: We look forward to fostering a continuous bridge between higher education, civil society networks, and international youth work in our upcoming project phases!