University drives push to make Brazilian campuses safer for women
Posted on: 22 August, 2025
By Dr Muhammad Qasim Rana and Professor Angela Lee
The University of the Built Environment has hosted a hybrid workshop at its headquarters in Reading, England, as part of an international project tackling gender-based violence in Brazilian higher education.
The initiative – ‘SafeEduBrazil: Empowering Women in Brazilian Higher Education through Violence Prevention and Safe Learning Environments’ – is funded by the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships programme with a grant of £24,990.
Gender-based violence challenges
Building on earlier collaboration, the project seeks to strengthen campus safety policies, introduce gender-sensitive practices, and promote institutional accountability through research, training and policy advocacy.
The hybrid workshop at the University’s Horizons office on Monday 18 August brought together 18 participants from across the UK and Brazil, including representatives from the University of Surrey, Leeds Beckett University, University of Plymouth and the University of Greater Manchester.
It followed an international workshop held on Thursday 14 August in Belém, Brazil, where 26 participants from partner universities and organisations contributed insights into the local challenges facing women in higher education.
Harassment and underreporting of incidents
Findings from a new survey, shared at the Reading event by Dr Guilherme Hissa Villas Boas of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, underscored the ongoing challenges and opportunities in addressing gender-based violence and promoting equity on university campuses.
The results of the survey will be published later this year, though the workshop sessions highlighted the persistence of gender-based harassment and the underreporting of incidents across Brazilian institutions.
Leading the project, Dr Muhammad Qasim Rana, senior lecturer at the University of the Built Environment, said: “These workshops represent a significant step forward in strengthening international collaboration, knowledge-sharing and joint strategies to promote safe and inclusive learning environments for women in higher education.
Professor Angela Lee, Associate Dean – Research, added: “By bringing together UK and Brazilian partners, we are laying the groundwork for lasting institutional change.”
Systemic discrimination in Brazilian universities
The SafeEduBrazil project builds on evidence uncovered during a previous Gender Equality Partnership initiative called Equal-Brazil, which revealed the scale of sexual harassment and systemic discrimination in Brazilian universities.
According to one survey carried out by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, one in two female researchers has faced sexual harassment. Many women face barriers to reporting incidents due to fear of retaliation, stigma or lack of trust in institutional mechanisms. While some universities have begun developing dedicated support services and awareness-raising programmes, progress remains uneven.
Through a year-long programme of training, policy development and awareness campaigns, the partnership aims to embed comprehensive gender equality measures, ensure confidential reporting mechanisms are in place, and empower students and staff to create safer campus environments.
By addressing systemic barriers and promoting inclusive practices, the University of the Built Environment and its partners hope to drive sustainable cultural change – ensuring that women in Brazilian higher education can pursue their studies and careers free from violence and discrimination.
