As part of the AIDA4Edge project activities, an online lecture was held on April 16, 2025, featuring Prof. Rachel Cowen from the University of Manchester. The session was dedicated to the topic of gender equality and inclusion in higher education, shedding light on the institutional approaches and cultural shifts necessary to create more equitable academic environments.

Prof. Cowen shared her extensive experience in leading equality initiatives and highlighted the role of the Athena Swan Charter in driving systemic change. Using the University of Manchester as a case study, she presented practical examples of how academic institutions can work towards inclusive excellence.

The lecture sparked a meaningful discussion among participants from the Faculty of Electronic Engineering, University of Niš, encouraging reflection on local practices and strategies for improvement.

This event marked the beginning of a series of collaborative knowledge exchanges between partner institutions, supported by the European Union and UK Research and Innovation under the AIDA4Edge initiative.

We express our sincere appreciation to Prof. Cowen for her inspiring talk and look forward to continuing the dialogue on equity and inclusion in research and education.