Regional cooperation of universities on issues of gender equality is an indicator of how excellent results can be achieved through partnership working. A systematic approach to introducing gender equality in universities will help make academic institutions a safer place, without discrimination on the basis of gender, for everyone.
Within the project University and Gender Mainstreaming (UNIGEM), the TPO Foundation has on 6th of October 2021, with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom,  organized a meeting and the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the TPO Foundation and 17 universities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. The UNIGEM project represents a strategic commitment of universities to ensure Gender equality and a safe environment for both male and female students as well as for male and female teachers at universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region by introducing a gender perspective. His Excellency, Ambassador Matthew Field, pointed out that: “A survey in BiH shows that more than 60 percent of citizens believe that gender-based discrimination is widespread. For us, it is an indicator that we need to do more in that field, and we will. As for women and girls, this issue remains an important priority for the United Kingdom. Here we support a large number of activities in the field of gender equality, women's empowerment and the fight against gender based violence. I am proud that today, together with the TPO Foundation and universities throughout BiH and the Western Balkans, we are starting to work on the issue of gender equality in higher education. The education sector, especially at university level, is key to long-term, meaningful and sustainable change. The United Kingdom supports this project. I believe it will lead to a positive change. Our common vision are universities with not only a zero tolerance rate for gender-based discrimination, but universities that actively promote equality, non-violence and inclusion as well.”
The signatories of the memorandum of cooperation recognized gender equality as an important indicator of the overall state of human rights and freedoms at universities and the society as a whole. The Program Director of the TPO Foundation prof. dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak emphasized in this sense that: "The moral imperative of all of us is to ensure fundamental human rights and freedoms, and this will not be possible if there is no willingness to change the culture of gender relations, gender roles and the dynamics of power in society. Therefore it is important that the gender perspective becomes an integral part of the institutional development and functioning of the universities community and the process of education and upbringing, and that not only formally, but so that the values ​​of justice, fairness and equality are truly advocated and lived.“

The realization of the project goals, for a period of four years, envisiones a comprehensive research on the state of gender equality at universities before and after the implementation of this project. The UNIGEM project also envisiones the establishment of a special body to combat gender-based discrimination at all universities that have signed this Memorandum. A special resource center will be established at the University of Sarajevo to coordinate all activities in the areas of gender equality and the fight against gender-based violence and discrimination.
The Rector of the University of Sarajevo prof. dr. Rifat Škrijelj emphasized in his adress the importance of this project and said that it was: "Another project in which the University of Sarajevo participates with pleasure dedicated to, I could say, networking of our universities around a common idea." With gratitude to the initiator and implementer of this project, the University of Sarajevo will give its unreserved contribution because gender equality and the suppression of all forms of discrimination is one of the universal principles on which the academic community is based. According to international conventions, there should be no discrimination at universities, so projects based on that platform are very interesting for us and we, as a university, invest heavily in that direction. In this sense, we strive to organize our management structure and the structure at lower levels of management at the University of Sarajevo. I express my gratitude to the organizers of this project, financiers and all the people gathered around this platform."

Support for this project by addressing the audience was also expressed by the Director of the Agency for Higher Education and Quality Assurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prof. dr. Enes Hasic, and via a video link, words of support were expressed by the expert associate of the Agency for Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska, Mrs. Tatjana Radakovic, as well. Words of support, via a video link, were also expresed by the representative of the University of Rijeka, Dr. sc. Sanja Barić and the director of the department for legal, ethical and issues of inclusion and diversity of the University of Rijeka, Ms. Darija Glavan Šćulac.