The launch of the Erasmus+ project “Women’s Empowerment for Leadership and Equity in Higher Education Institutions” (WE4LEAD), co-organized by the Lebanese University (LU) and Antonine University (UA), took place on December 14, 2023, at the LU Rectorate. The event brought together academic leaders, educators, and government officials to promote gender equality in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Lebanon.

WE4LEAD includes 9 universities from 6 Mediterranean countries: Aix-Marseille University (France), serving as the coordinator; the Lebanese University (Lebanon), acting as co-leader for coordination and management; Antonine University (Lebanon); Sapienza University of Rome (Italy); the Autonomous University of Madrid (Spain); the University of Constantine 3 and the University of Mostaganem (Algeria); the University of Tunis El Manar and the University of Sousse (Tunisia); along with an associated partner, the Francophone Network of Women Leaders in Higher Education and Research (RESUFF) of the “Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie” (AUF).

The ceremony featured speeches, video presentations, and discussions on the project’s goals, partnerships, and expected outcomes. Speakers emphasized the importance of international collaboration in strengthening capacities to increase women’s access to the highest decision-making positions, noting that gender inequality deprives HEIs and society of half of their intellectual capital and human resources. They also highlighted the economic impact of the project, whether through job creation or recruitment policies based solely on individuals’ skills rather than their gender.

In this context, WE4LEAD, which aims to empower women in HEIs, is also an ambitious project designed to disseminate its results beyond the partner universities and encourage adoption by other institutions, thus ensuring their enhancement and sustainability beyond the project’s timeframe.

In conclusion, the WE4LEAD project is seen as a crucial step toward a more inclusive professional environment for women in HEIs in Lebanon.