20 fellows graduated from GRÓ GEST

GRÓ GEST celebrated the graduation of 20 fellows, who were awarded a postgraduate diploma in international gender studies from the University of Iceland in a ceremony on Friday. The fellows come from 15 countries: China, Egypt, Kenya, India, Iraq (Kurdistan), Malawi, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Palestine (West Bank), Russia (Arctic), Sri Lanka and Uganda. The group consists of experts working in governments, academia, research, civil societies, non-governmental organisations and health sectors.

The 2021 cohort arrived in Iceland early August, after their programme had been postponed from January 2021 due to the pandemic.Throughout the semester, the fellows have completed six interdisciplinary modules: Gender Theories and Concepts; Gender and Development; Gender, Violence and Security; Gender, Labour and Migration; Gender, Environment and Climate Change; and the Final Assignment. Number of international and Icelandic scholars have contributed to the programme. 

It is the 13th graduation of GEST and second graduation of GEST as a GRÓ Centre for Capacity Development, Sustainability and Societal Change. The 20 fellows now join the previously graduated 152 GEST fellows, in an expanding GEST alumni network.

The Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Award

The graduation ceremony took place at Veröld, the House of Vigdís, at the University of Iceland. The event was attended by Ms. Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Cooperation; Dr. Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland; Ólöf Garðarsdóttir, Dean of the School of Humanities, Nína Björk Jónsdóttir, Director General of GRÓ Centre, Jón Karl Ólafsson, Chair of GRÓ Board as well as GEST fellows, supervisors, staff, and other guests.

Dr. Irma Erlingsdóttir, Director of GRÓ GEST, opened the graduation ceremony following a musical performance by A Band Called Eva. Ms. Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Dr. Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland shared their remarks, congratulating the 2021 fellows. A newly graduated fellow Bernah Namatovu addressed the guests and shared her reflections on the programme.

The Vigdís Finnbogadóttir award, was presented for the best final assignment. Unfortunately, Ms. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the matron of the programme, was not available to attend the ceremony but sent her best wishes to the newly graduates.

In the category of applied projects and project proposals, Pamela Chavarría Machado with an assignment titled Community response to intimate partner violence (IPV) in Mexico City received the award. In the category of essays and research proposals, Daria Burnasheva, with an assignment titled Indigenous women as water protectors, men as firefighters? Gender and indigeneity in the context of climate change in Sakha (Yakutia) received the award. 

More info about the ceremony

The GRÓ GEST team and the University of Iceland congratulates the new fellows and wishes them all the best in their future endeavours.

More photos from the ceremony