University of Newcastle (UoN) Professor Penny Jane Burke is looking forward to the challenge after being appointed a UNESCO chair in equity, social justice and higher education.

The globally-prestigious position will see her working to improve the lives of marginalised groups around the world, including victim-survivors of gender-based violence.

Professor Burke’s expected to focus on four program areas, including:

• A Newcastle-Ghana Best Practice Hub to generate new knowledge of the impact of gender-based violence (GBV) on higher education access and participation, producing specialised post-crisis strategies, that currently do not exist, to support GBV victim-survivors
• A Ghana-Newcastle Co-Mentoring Program to generate communities of praxis dedicated to the collective formulation of strategies for achieving gender parity in and beyond higher education. These strategies will address both the structural barriers and the cultural patterns of unequal value that currently impede gender equity
• An innovative methodology to rethink equity structures for impact in and through higher education and to embed equity within university functions through research and connected professional development in Australia, Ghana and England
• Three PhD Fellowships to contribute to an existing cohort of emerging equity scholars and build capacity for equity leadership and expertise in Australia and Ghana

“I’m thrilled to take on the role, which will extend the work of UoN’s Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education (CEEHE),” Professor Burke said.

“The research we have been undertaking aims to mobilise higher education to address the challenging conditions that undermine progress toward reducing inequalities, gender equality and quality education for all.

“As a UNESCO chair, we will have the collaborative networks and resources to build on the work we have already done to make a real difference to communities facing social, cultural, political and environmental injustice.

“We’ll be able to confront the concrete barriers and insidious inequalities that greatly undermine access to and participation in higher education and significantly improve the life chances of communities navigating social inequality, including victim-survivors of gender-based violence.”

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is a specialised agency, with chairs appointed to create a network by partnering with institutions across the globe.

UoN Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky AO said the role would see Professor Burke, as well as local and international partners, work together to mobilise higher education as a vehicle for equity and social justice.

“The UN has described gender-based violence as a ‘shadow pandemic’ and we know this has devastating effects for victim-survivors,” he explained.

“Professor’s Burke’s leadership and guidance will help our university to enable them to flourish through accessible lifelong learning opportunities.

“I’m proud she’s uniquely bringing research and practice together for social justice.

“Professor Burke’s role as UNESCO chair will see the UoN continue to be a leading university in equity by working with local and global partners to address critical issues for improving the lives of disadvantaged groups.”

Dr Gifty Oforiwaa Gyamera, who has worked closely with Professor Burke and will be a key partner in the program, also praised the appointment.

“I am so glad that we in Ghana will be able to benefit from it,” she said.

“I’d like to congratulate Professor Burke and the CEEHE team and express our deepest appreciation for Penny for her initiative and how she has been able to assist in addressing gender inequities in Ghana.”

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