Representatives of the American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) participated in a three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) on Whole-of-School Approach (WoS): Preventing Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Violence in Tertiary Educational Institutions in Bangladesh, held from 20–22 September 2026 at the Holiday Inn, Dhaka.

The training was organized under the “Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (ESGBV) in Public Spaces, Workplaces and in Tertiary Educational Institutions in Bangladesh” project, implemented by UN Women with the support of the European Union (EU), in collaboration with the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK). The project, running from 2024 to 2028, aims to create safer environments by strengthening institutional capacity to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence, challenging harmful gender norms, and promoting safer, more respectful and inclusive spaces. The tertiary education component focuses particularly on strengthening universities’ policies, systems, capacities and institutional mechanisms to prevent and address gender-based violence.

AIUB is one of five selected universities participating in the tertiary education component of the initiative, alongside Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Daffodil International University (DIU), Khulna University, and Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur.

The three-day ToT was designed around the Whole-of-School Approach, emphasizing that prevention of sexual harassment and gender-based violence requires coordinated institutional action rather than isolated interventions. The sessions were facilitated by Katherine Belen, Technical Expert, UN Women, with participants engaging in discussions, practical exercises, reflection, peer learning and facilitation activities.

The first day covered sexual harassment, sexual and gender-based violence (SRGBV) and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) in university settings, legal and institutional responsibilities, the seven interconnected components of the Whole-of-School framework, institutional readiness and stakeholder mapping, and principles of safe and participatory Training of Trainers. The second day focused on leadership, committees and policy implementation; reporting, referral and confidentiality; survivor-centered responses; managing disclosures; gender-transformative prevention; peer education, male allies and women’s empowerment; and capacity development for staff and faculty.

On the third day, participants explored physical safety and women’s safety audit methods, digital safety and TFGBV prevention, community and civil-society partnerships, and monitoring, learning and accountability. A major component was the Institutional 90-Day Action Planning exercise, through which participating universities translated the training into practical institutional actions and commitments. Participants subsequently presented their action plans and reflected on ways to strengthen prevention and response mechanisms within their respective universities.

The closing session was addressed by Professor Dr. Abdullah-Al-Mamun, Member, University Grants Commission (UGC), who highlighted the importance attached by the government to women’s empowerment, women’s safety and the prevention of gender-based violence. His remarks reinforced the importance of institutional commitment and collective action in creating safer educational environments.

Representing AIUB throughout the three-day training were Prof. Dr. Manzur H. Khan, Proctor, AIUB; Farhad Alim, Head of Human Resource; and Nazia Farhana, Additional Director, Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (AIUB-IQAC). The AIUB representatives actively participated in the training sessions, group discussions, practical exercises and institutional action-planning activities.

The program concluded with a certificate ceremony, where participants from the participating universities received their Training of Trainers (ToT) certificates, followed by a post-training assessment and closing activities.

AIUB’s participation in the initiative reflects its continued commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, inclusive and gender-responsive university environment, while strengthening institutional capacity to prevent sexual harassment and gender-based violence and to promote a culture of dignity, accountability and safety across the university community.