Announcing the 7th OWSD General Assembly and International Conference

OWSD is excited to announce that the 7th OWSD General Assembly and International Conference will be held in Bogotá, Colombia, from 3-7 November 2025.

This five-day global event is expected to bring together over 400 participants including 250 women scientists from across the Global South, as well as government representatives, policy leaders, international scientific organizations and science councils. It is a strategic opportunity to ensure the voices of women scientists from developing countries are heard and make a difference to decision making processes in higher education around the globe. The OWSD General Assembly itself invites representatives from the 58 OWSD national chapters to contribute to the Organization's regional strategic planning processes, strengthening OWSD networks of women scientists from Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Arab region.

This is the first time that an OWSD General Assembly will take place in Latin America. Previous venues have been in  China, South Africa, India, and Kuwait.

The event will be hosted on the fabulous campus of EAN University in Bogotá and is strategically linked to the Third Interregional Dialogue on Education and Development – a high-level policy and academic dialogue co-organized by OBREAL and partners, with participation from the Government of Colombia, the African Union, the Colombian Association of Universities (ASCUN), and the Association of African Universities (AAU), among others.

The two events will be jointly hosted at EAN University over the same week and will share several elements of the programme. This includes opening and closing ceremonies, plenary sessions, and networking opportunities. OWSD will invite around 250 participants, including Executive Board members, fellows, National Chapter representatives, and members. OBREAL will extend invitations to approximately 150 participants, including higher education experts, policymakers, institutional partners, and stakeholders from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe. Together, this diverse group of participants will contribute to a vibrant and inclusive dialogue on women in science, higher education, and international cooperation.

Participation in the Event

Participation in the in-person event is limited to invited members who have been formally selected by the OWSD Executive Board to represent their National Chapter or a specific OWSD programme (PhD and Early Career fellowships, Awards, WISDOM scholarships).

Live streaming will be made available to all members for selected sessions of the OWSD 7th General Assembly.

Registration will be required to receive the streaming links; more information will be made available regarding registration prior to the event.