Our Projects

At the University of the Built Environment, we are tackling one of the most pressing challenges within the built environment sector achieving genuine gender equality. Through rigorous academic inquiry and international collaboration, we are proud to have secured multiple prestigious and highly competitive research grants from the British Council, with funding now exceeding £300,000. These externally funded projects focus on addressing gender inequality in both higher education and industry settings across a diverse range of countries, including Brazil, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Vietnam, Brunei, and Kenya.

With several active research projects and a growing network of global partners, our university has become a key player in shaping the gender equality research landscape in the built environment. Each project forms part of a wider international consortium that brings together critical stakeholders, universities, policy influencers, educators, industry leaders, and advocacy groups to examine gender disparities, collect and analyse data, and co-create practical, evidence-based solutions.

Our research is not only academic in nature but aims to make a tangible, real-world impact. These projects involve capacity building, training, and awareness-raising activities to empower individuals and institutions in partner countries. From publishing groundbreaking studies to hosting international workshops, we are committed to generating meaningful, sustainable change. The University of the Built Environment is proud to be at the forefront of this global conversation creating knowledge that challenges inequality and fosters inclusive, equitable futures across continents.

Current Research Projects

We are currently leading five international research collaborations, each advancing equity, inclusion, and sustainability in education and society through strategic partnerships, evidence-led research, and capacity building.

🇧🇳 Brunei | EDI-Brunei-HE

Project Title: Embedding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity in Higher Education: Framework Development and Capacity Building in Brunei
Funding: SEA-UK GEDI Challenge Grant | £15,000
Lead Institution: UCEM (UK)
This project develops institutional frameworks and training to embed EDI principles within Bruneian higher education, equipping staff and educators with the tools to foster inclusive learning environments.

🇵🇰 Pakistan | ENABLE-PK

Project Title: Enhancing Networks for Accessibility and Barrier-free Learning for Empowering Disability Inclusion in Pakistani Higher Education
Funding: British Council Going Global Partnerships | £24,990
ENABLE-PK works to eliminate barriers in Pakistani higher education through disability inclusion training, peer support networks, and institutional policy reform.

🇧🇷 Brazil | SafeEduBrazil

Project Title: Empowering Women in Brazilian Higher Education through Violence Prevention and Safe Learning Environments
Funding: British Council Going Global Partnerships | £24,990
This project builds on previous work to strengthen gender-sensitive campus safety policies and increase institutional accountability through research, training, and policy advocacy.

🇧🇷 Brazil | EcoBrazil

Project Title: Adapting Ecosystems: Bridging Biodiversity and Climate Resilience in Brazilian Landscapes
Funding: International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) | £53,200
EcoBrazil focuses on enhancing climate and biodiversity resilience through community-engaged ecosystem modelling, policy co-design, and cross-sectoral knowledge exchange.

Successfully Delivered Projects

📍 Pakistan | Safe4All

Partner: International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI)
Completed: May 2025
This project aimed to create safer, more inclusive learning environments for women in Pakistan’s higher education institutions by addressing gender-based violence (GBV) through capacity-building, awareness campaigns, and institutional change. It responded to alarming rates of GBV affecting up to 70% of women in the country and the resulting exclusion of women from academic and professional spheres.

📘 Key publications:

• Rana, Muhammad Qasim, Angela Lee, Noreen Saher, and Zeba Shabbir. (2024). Barriers to Empowerment: Examining the Transition of Pakistani Women from Higher Education (HE) to Professional Life. Social Sciences, 13(10): 514.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13100514

• Rana, Muhammad Qasim, Noreen Saher, Angela Lee, and Zeba Shabbir. (2024). Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation of the Barriers and Sustainable Pathways for Women During the Transition from Higher Education to Empowerment in Pakistan. Social Sciences, 13(12): 657.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13120657

📍 Brazil | Equal-Brazil

Partner: Universidade Estadual do Maranhão (UEMA)
Completed: May 2025
Equal-Brazil investigated the structural and cultural barriers that prevent female graduates from transitioning successfully into the workforce, despite higher educational attainment than their male counterparts. The project informed gender-sensitive employment policies and institutional reforms within Brazil’s higher education system.

📘 Key publications:

• Rana, Muhammad Qasim, Angela Lee, José Fernando Rodrigues Bezerra, and Guilherme Hissa Villas Boas. (2025). Evaluating the Agreement Index of the Barriers Faced by Women During the Transition from Higher Education to Empowerment in Brazil: A Sustainable Development Perspective. Administrative Sciences, 15(3): 82.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15030082

• Rana, Muhammad Qasim, Angela Lee, José Fernando Rodrigues Bezerra, and Guilherme Hissa Villas Boas. (2024). Empowerment and Sustainability: Investigating Barriers to Women’s Transition from Higher Education to Empowerment in Brazil. Societies, 14(11): 234.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14110234

📍 Jordan | Gender & Leadership

Partner: Philadelphia University
Completed: March 2024
This project examined the underrepresentation of women in academic leadership roles within Jordan’s higher education sector, particularly in male-dominated fields like architecture and engineering. The findings informed institutional frameworks and leadership development strategies.

📘 Key publications:

• Alshdiefat, A.S., Sharif, A.A., Abu Ghunmi, N., Lee, A., & Rana, M.Q. (2024). Women in Leadership of Higher Education: Critical Barriers in Jordanian Universities. Cogent Education, 11(1).
  https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2357900

• Alshdiefat, A.S., Sharif, A.A., Abu Ghunmi, N., Lee, A., & Rana, M.Q. (2024). Factors Impacting Women Gaining Leadership Roles in the Jordanian Construction Sector: Architects and Civil Engineers. Buildings, 14(4): 944.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14040944

📍 Jordan | Levelling Up STEM

Partner: Hashemite University
Completed: March 2024
Despite high female participation in some STEM fields in Jordan, others—like engineering—remain male-dominated. This project explored societal and institutional constraints and proposed targeted reforms to promote sustainable gender equality in STEM education and employment.

📘 Key publications:

• Sharif, A.A., Alshdiefat, A.S., Lee, A., Rana, M.Q., & Abu Ghunmi, N. (2024). Gender Equality in Architecture and Construction: An Assessment Framework in Jordan. Buildings, 14(3): 764.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030764

• Sharif, A.A., Lee, A., Alshdiefat, A.S., Rana, M.Q., & Abu Ghunmi, N. (2024). Sustainable Gender Equality: A Comparative Perspective on STEM Education and Employment in Jordan. Sustainability, 16(6): 2273.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062273

📍 Egypt | Gender, Education & Career

Completed: March 2024
This project addressed the steep drop-off of female participation from higher education into the Egyptian workforce, especially in engineering. It revealed key transitional barriers and provided a roadmap for supporting women graduates into meaningful employment.

📘 Key publications:

• Rana, M.Q., Fahim, S., Saad, M., Lee, A., Oladinrin, O.T., & Ojo, L.D. (2024). Exploring the Underlying Barriers for the Successful Transition for Women from Higher Education to Employment in Egypt: A Focus Group Study. Social Sciences, 13(4): 195.
  https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13040195

• Rana, M.Q., Fahim, S., Saad, M., & Lee, A. (2024). Gender and Career: Exploring Transitions for Women from Higher Education to Employment in Egypt. IJSEM, 11(3): 9–13.
  (ISSN 2456-1304)