Call for Expressions of Interest: Partner Universities in Uganda OWSD WISDOM Pilot Project Gender, Science, Displacement
The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) invites universities in Uganda to partner in the WISDOM Pilot Project: Women in Science Displacement Outreach Master's Program. This program is designed to provide educational opportunities for displaced women scientists while strengthening the capacity of host institutions to support displaced learners through a co-creation process. To be eligible, universities must currently be hosting active OWSD Fellows or have OWSD National Partner members currently affiliated or have previously hosted OWSD Alumnae.
Building on successful implementation in Jordan and Türkiye, the project emphasizes sustainable inclusion in national education systems and transformative institutional development.
About the WISDOM Pilot Project
The WISDOM Pilot Project is an initiative to support displaced women scientists from developing countries to pursue master’s degrees in their countries of asylum in the Global South. The program combines scholarship support for students with a collaborative institutional capacity-building process, helping partner universities create inclusive, enabling environments for displaced learners.
Key Objectives
- Institutional Strengthening
- Equip partner universities with tools and knowledge to support displaced learners.
- Foster gender-responsive, inclusive policies and practices.
- Build long-term capacity for integrating refugee and asylum-seeking students into academic programs.
- Inclusive Education
- Facilitate access to quality master’s programs for displaced women scientists.
- Develop safe learning environments through gender and protection-focused training.
- Network Building
- Establish connections among scholars, institutions, and stakeholders for continued collaboration and support.
Partner Responsibilities
Selected universities will play a critical role in shaping and implementing this initiative. Responsibilities include:
- Participating in a co-creation process to design institutional capacity-building activities.
- Collaborating with OWSD to implement training programs on inclusion, protection, and gender equity.
- Organizing the Selection Committee, coordinating academic review, and supporting outreach efforts, including consultations with local UNHCR office & any relevant implementing partners.
- Engaging in training and network building activities; managing program funds, including disbursement of scholarships, and providing transparent financial reporting.
- Supporting enrolled students by streamlining administrative processes and offering academic and personal guidance.
Funding and Support
The program, in addition to funds for scholarships, provides support for:
- Institutional capacity-building activities tailored to partner needs.
- Full scholarships for displaced women pursuing master’s degrees.
- Network-building initiatives to foster collaboration and shared learning between displaced students.
|
Funding Component |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Institutional Capacity Building |
Co-designed training and resources to strengthen support systems for displaced students. |
|
M.Sc. Tuition Fees |
Covers full enrollment costs; partner universities are encouraged to waive partial fees. |
|
Living Allowance |
Supports study materials, food, transport, and accommodation. |
|
Personal Allowance |
Covers additional student expenses. |
|
Residence/Visa Documentation |
Supports legal status requirements for displaced students. |
|
Medical Insurance |
Provides comprehensive coverage for enrolled students. |
|
Network Building |
Develops student connections and collaborative platforms. |
Eligibility Criteria for Students
Partner universities will help identify candidates who meet the following criteria:
- Hold official refugee or asylum seeker status (e.g., UNHCR registration or national government documentation).
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
- Be nationals of an eligible country.
OWSD, in collaboration with partner universities and UNHCR, will ensure an inclusive and transparent selection process.
Why Partner with OWSD?
This partnership offers universities the opportunity to:
- Strengthen institutional frameworks for inclusion and gender equity.
- Build networks with global stakeholders in science, education, and displacement.
- Contribute to transformative change in higher education for displaced learners.
How to Apply
Universities interested in partnering with OWSD for the WISDOM Pilot Project should submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) of no more than 1000 words detailing:
- Institutional experience working with displaced or more generally with marginalized students.
- Vision for co-creating capacity-building activities for the university with OWSD.
- Commitment to gender-responsive and inclusive education practices.
- Preliminary ideas on contributions that the univerisity could make towards the project objectives (i.e. suggestions for either in-kind contributions or financial contributions like a discount in tuition fees for students)
Deadline for Submission: January 20th 2025
Online information session with OWSD: January 9th 2025. Please email for the Zoom call details.
Submit your EOI or request access to the online information session on Zoom by sending us an email.
Write to: WISDOM@owsd.net and cc: sgalazzi@owsd.net
For more information, please visit www.owsd.net/wisdom
