Aussie professor earns global equity post
Tracey Ferrier |
An Australian professor has been given a global opportunity to erode the barriers that limit life’s opportunities for so many.
University of Newcastle Professor Penny Jane Burke will on Tuesday become a UNESCO Chair in Equity, Social Justice and Higher Education.
The globally-prestigious role will see her work to improve the lives of marginalised groups around the world, including victim-survivors of gender-based violence.
The role, with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, will involve forging partnerships with institutions across the world to address inequalities, including those that lock some out of education.
Prof Burke says the role will extend the work the university has already been doing in that space, and will make a real difference to communities facing social, cultural, political and environmental injustice.
“We will be able to challenge the concrete barriers and insidious inequalities that greatly undermine access to and participation in higher education and significantly improve the life chances of communities navigating social inequality, including victim-survivors of gender-based violence.”
AAP
