{"id":678,"date":"2025-10-30T21:04:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T21:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research-sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/reducing-gender-disparity-in-higher-education\/?p=678"},"modified":"2026-02-21T10:32:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T10:32:06","slug":"sea-uk-gedi-leadership-forum-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research-sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/reducing-gender-disparity-in-higher-education\/sea-uk-gedi-leadership-forum-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"SEA-UK GEDI Leadership Forum Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"

The British Council invited current researchers who have been awarded the Going Global Partnership\u00a0 2024-2025 to attend the South East (SEA) – The United Kingdom (UK) – Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity\u00a0 (GEDI) Leadership Forum that took place on the 31st October 2025 at Woburn Hall, Woburn House, London, UK. This event began with a welcome and opening remarks by Ms Gillian Cowell, Global Lead for Gender and Social Inclusion at the British Council, as shown in Figure 1. The SEA\u2013UK GEDI Forum marked the conclusion of Phase II of the Strengthening Leadership with Gender Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (GEDI) in Higher Education Institutions project. This forum brought together senior leaders from South East Asian and UK universities, ministries, government bodies, and sector organisations to: Showcase results from seven UK<\/span>\u2013SEA<\/span>\u00a0institutional grants that piloted the 2023\u00a0GEDI<\/span> White Paper recommendations; s<\/span>hare\u00a0lessons on how partners have adapted and implemented inclusive\u00a0leadership<\/span> practices at the institutional and system levels and engage\u00a0UK<\/span> stakeholders in dialogue on future collaboration and next steps for advancing GEDI in HE.<\/p>\n

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Figure 1. Welcome and opening remarks by Ms Gillian Cowell, Global Lead Gender and Social Inclusion at British Council. Photo: Dr (PhD) Diana Contreras.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Excerpts of Ms Cowell’s speech can be watched at:https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=y4S-hPvf3LU<\/a><\/p>\n

The welcome and opening remarks were followed by the first panel discussion: Policy and Perspective. This session explored how regional policy leaders were translating the principles of GEDI into action, reflecting on lessons from the White Paper and priorities for sustaining policy dialogue across Southeast Asia. This panel counted with representatives from Cambodia, Ms Bunry Rinna, Chief of the Office of Policy and Curriculum, Department of Higher Education Management, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport; representing Philipines: Ms Edna Imelda Fernandez-Legazpi, Director IV\/Regional Director, CHED MIMAROPA \/ Co-chairperson, CHED GAD Focal Point System, Commission on Higher Education and Dr Romyen Kosaikanont, Vice President, Mae Fah Luang\u00a0 University and Former Seameo RIHED Director. The image of the panel is in Figure 2.<\/p>\n

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Figure 2. Panel Discussion I: Policy & Leadership perspective. Photo: Dr (PhD) Diana Contreras.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Excerpts of the panel discussion can be watched at:\u00a0https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gd_vtQBqTt4&t=63s<\/a><\/p>\n

Afterwards, participants had the opportunity to attend for 60 minutes, four of the seven interactive sessions showcased the UK-Southeast Asia Challenge Grant projects. Each session presented key insights and outcomes that have influenced institutional and policy change. In these small groups, Principal Investigators presented their projects through posters and reports, exchanged ideas with the participants, explored lessons learned and identified emerging themes to inform future collaboration. Projects and Institutions are listed below:<\/p>\n