As part of the Developing Women Empowerment Models in Manufacturing Industry Project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), and the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and funded by the European Union, a Gender Equality Seminar Series is being held. Launched on 24 February, the series aims to foster the development of inclusive and equitable workplace practices.

The project aims to develop models that place gender equality and women’s empowerment at the heart of the green and digital - or “twin” - transformation currently shaping the development agenda in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to equip women with knowledge and skills in green production and digital technologies. In addition, awareness-raising and capacity-building activities are being carried out to support the establishment of equitable workplace practices. Alongside the gender equality trainings delivered to direct beneficiaries, a wider audience is engaged through the Gender Equality Seminar Series. These online seminars not only enhance participants’ understanding of the structural and historical gender disparities in access to quality employment, but also strengthen their resilience against potential discriminatory behaviours they may encounter in professional life.

Based on direct feedback from project beneficiaries, six gender equality seminars were delivered between February and April 2025, with the participation of experts and academics from diverse disciplines.

A total of 1,390 attendances were recorded across the seminars, which aimed to contribute to the development of inclusive and equitable workplaces and the creation of enabling work environments, to raise awareness of the transformative impact that can be achieved by recognising areas of inequality in working life, and to identify opportunities for fostering inclusive workplaces and areas for strategic solidarity. The seminars attracted a diverse group of participants, including a majority of “change agents” with backgrounds in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) alongside women operators, as well as volunteer mentors, company representatives, and members of employer organisations affiliated with TİSK.

The Gender Equality Seminar Series enhances participants’ knowledge and awareness while paving the way for transformative change in work–life balance and the mainstreaming of gender equality. Women’s empowerment supports a shift in organisational culture, helping to drive progress toward sustainable and inclusive development goals across the sector. The Gender Equality Seminar Series will continue through June with additional seminars covering a range of topics. In May, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Göç will join the series to explore the question “What can men do for equality?” while in June, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ezgi Pehlivanlı will lead a discussion on future jobs in the context of gender equality.