KAGİDER (Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey) awards Bahçeşehir University with the ‘Equal Opportunity Model’ certificate

Bahçeşehir University has been awarded the ‘Equal Opportunity Model’ certificate developed by KAGİDER with the support of the World Bank to ensure gender equality in the business world.
Turkey’s Women Entrepreneurs Association (KAGİDER) has been awarding the Gender Equality and Inclusion Opportunity Model (FEM) certificate since 2012 to promote female employment, and this certificate has been given to Bahçeşehir University. Prof. Dr. Pınar Melis Yelsalı Parmaksız, Director of the Equality and Inclusion Unit (BAUEQUAL) at Bahçeşehir University, stated that ‘Creating an equality-based working environment and culture is one of the fundamental corporate principles observed in all units and human resources processes of our university.’

The FEM certificate award ceremony at Bahçeşehir University was attended by Neşecan Çekici, Member of the Board of Directors of KAGİDER and Leader of the Private Sector Relations Committee; Deniz Altuntaş, KAGİDER Global Relations and Corporate Communications Manager; Prof. Dr. Tunç Bozbura, Vice Rector of Bahçeşehir University; Prof. Dr. Pınar Melis Yelsalı Parmaksız, Faculty Member of the Department of Sociology at BAU Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and Director of BAUEQUAL; academicians; and the Human Resources Directorate. Neşecan Çekici, Member of the Board of Directors of KAGİDER and Leader of the Private Sector Relations Committee, expressed her great pleasure at Bahçeşehir University’s eligibility to receive the Equal Opportunity Model Certificate. She emphasized the university’s determination towards gender equality and women’s empowerment, which has been confirmed by independent evaluations, praising their sensitivity and concrete efforts in this field, stating, ‘We believe that we are stronger together. We believe that the steps taken by Bahçeşehir University in the field of gender equality and women’s empowerment will enhance the synergy of cooperation with KAGİDER.’

‘Empowering women and girls is our corporate priority’

Prof. Dr. Pınar Melis Yelsalı Parmaksız, Director of BAUEQUAL, stated that they launched BAUEUQAL with an expert academic staff as a result of the efforts initiated in 2019 throughout the institution to ensure gender equality, prevent all forms of violence including sexual harassment and workplace violence, and prevent discrimination. Prof. Dr. Yelsalı Parmaksız stated that within the framework of the general understanding of developing the understanding of gender equality at the university, the Gender Equality Action Plan (GEP) was prepared and put into effect. She described the process as follows:

‘A Policy Document Against Sexual Harassment and Assault was published. A Support Unit Against Sexual Harassment and Assault was established. Activities were carried out to increase institutional awareness in gender equality and inclusion and to identify needs. In addition, efforts were made in the context of promoting academic studies and developing university-private sector collaborations to advance towards the goal of being an institution that prioritizes gender equality as targeted by the ‘Equal Opportunity’ certificate.’

Prof. Dr. Yelsalı Parmaksız emphasized that creating an equality-based working environment and culture is one of the fundamental corporate principles observed in all units and human resources processes at BAU. She said, ‘Empowering women and girls, the fifth of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the goals outlined in the Gender Equality Action Plan announced by the university, is among the corporate priorities of BAU. We aim to support the institutional culture based on equality and inclusion in all corporate environments and processes, contribute to the dissemination and establishment of gender equality and inclusion through research and academic publications, and set an example in this regard.’