Shaping the future of academic leadership: open call for Mediterranean universities

5 January 2026, Barcelona. The Union for the Mediterranean, together with the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (ACCD), is launching the project “Women Leading Change: Gender-Responsive Leadership in Mediterranean Universities and Municipalities”, and to invite universities from Morocco, Lebanon and Syria to express their interest in participating and receiving tailored technical assistance. A total of 10 universities will be selected across the three countries and special attention will be given to universities that demonstrate a strong institutional commitment to gender equality and leadership reform, as well as existing, planned or desired cooperation with their municipality.

About the project

Universities play a key role not only in shaping future generations, but also in influencing social norms, leadership models and public policy. Strengthening gender-sensitive leadership in higher education has a transformative impact within institutions and beyond, particularly when universities actively cooperate with municipalities as key actors of local development and governance.

This regional project aims to strengthen gender-responsive leadership, institutional reform and collaboration between universities and municipalities, creating sustainable models for inclusive governance and social change in the Southern Mediterranean.

What selected universities will receive

Participating universities will benefit from a comprehensive package of technical assistance, capacity-building support and regional networking opportunity, including:

• Participation in high-level regional and national events, including a launch event, advocacy activities and a final conference with strong political visibility;
• Tailored technical assistance to develop, update or implement gender equality and gender-sensitive leadership plans;
• Access to specialized training on gender and leadership, including training-of-trainers opportunities;
• Mentoring and peer learning with universities and experts from across the Mediterranean region;
• Joint activities with municipalities, including shared trainings, advocacy events and awareness-raising tools;
• Integration into a regional community of practice facilitated by the Union for the Mediterranean, with opportunities for future cooperation and scaling up.

What is expected from participating universities

Selected universities commit to:

• Demonstrating high-level institutional support, including active involvement of the university leadership;
• Appointing dedicated focal points with sufficient time to coordinate participation and implementation of reforms;
• Actively engaging in project activities (trainings, meetings, events, mentoring);
• Developing, updating or implementing institutional reforms related to gender equality and gender-sensitive leadership;
• Cooperating closely with their municipality throughout the project, including joint participation in activities and advocacy efforts;
• Contributing to knowledge sharing, visibility and dissemination of project results at local and national level.

Cooperation with municipalities

This project places strong emphasis on university–municipality cooperation. Universities are therefore required to involve a municipality willing to engage actively in the project. Municipal representatives will be invited to participate in selected trainings, events and advocacy activities, ensuring alignment between higher education reform and local governance.

Calendar of key activities (indicative)

Selected universities will participate in a structured programme of regional and national activities in 2026, including:

• April – Two-day regional launch conference in Marseille (France)
  High-level event bringing together university leadership, municipalities, policymakers and international partners.
• June – Two-day intensive training on Gender and Leadership in Barcelona (Spain)
  Capacity-building and training-of-trainers sessions for university and municipal representatives.
• Autumn – One-day national advocacy events in Beirut and Rabat
  Joint university–municipality events to promote gender-responsive leadership and institutional reform at national level.
• Late Autumn – Two-day closing conference in Morocco
  Presentation of results, exchange of good practices and consolidation of a regional community of practice.

In addition to these in-person events, universities will take part in two online coordination meetings and two mentoring sessions throughout the project.

Financial support

Participation in the project is fully funded. All costs related to training, mentoring, travel and accommodation for the above activities will be fully covered by the project.

Application procedure

Interested universities are invited to submit a Letter of Expression of Interest, signed by the university’s leadership (President, Rector or equivalent), including:

1. A brief presentation of the university and its motivation to participate in the project;
2. A short description of existing or planned reforms in the area of gender equality and gender-sensitive leadership;
3. Contact details of two university representatives:
   • One member of the university governance (President, Vice-President or equivalent);
   • One person designated to coordinate the university’s participation in the project and the implementation of reforms;

Applicants must also attach a short expression of support from the municipality (email or letter), confirming its willingness to cooperate with the university in the project and indicating the contact details of the municipal representative who will take part in the activities.

Timeline

• Deadline for applications: 23 January
• Selection results published: by early February

How to apply

Applications and any questions related to this call should be sent with subject “Women Leading Change Call”  by email to: education@ufmsecretariat.org