Tangible Outcomes
How a partnership between iSAW and the University of Arizona turned a course project into a major report with an international focus
When Dr. Lysette Davi, an international educator at the University of Arizona, came across iSAW, international Strategic Accelerator for Women, she knew it was the perfect opportunity for her students to work on an issue that continues to plague all corners of society.
Her course, called ‘Ideas Into Action’ offered at the U of A’s W.A. Franke Honors College, gave the students the opportunity to engage in service learning, combining tangible actions with the academic process by partnering with organizations to solve social issues.
“Collaborations are so important. The students can do research—and in academia, we do a lot of research—but how is it given to the public? How do people receive that information to make change? The process of working on this research with iSAW was so beneficial for our students,” says Davi. “For them to have this experience of writing, researching, presenting their findings to so many stakeholders and to take critical feedback—all those skills, I think will benefit them for the future.”
The study was conducted during the 2021 fall semester, using academic and corporate sources, collaborative research and expert perspectives. Six student researchers from a variety of disciplines contributed to the research.
“Our goal is to encourage interdisciplinary thinking and demonstrate that you can't solve an issue with just one perspective, but that you need multiple perspectives,” says Davi.
The partnership also showed that rigorous and thorough research isn’t something that can only be done by well-established, professional academics.
“I want to give credit to the students because a lot of times we think that researchers have to have PhDs or have a certain type of training. Of course, this was a class and the students were mentored and received training, but the fact is that anyone can use their talents and critical thinking to elevate a conversation,” says Davi. “I think that just speaks to the goal of ESG in general.”
Diving into research that had such an impact on gender equality and ESG outcomes, not just around the globe but for their own futures, was particularly meaningful.
“Working on this report has shown me the powerful potential that ESG can have in creating change for women's rights within the workplace, and my hope is that our research and this report will be used to reduce the insane 100-plus year date where these rights will be achieved to something we will experience within our lifetimes,” says Drake Galouzes, a member of the report research team.
For Davi, watching the transformation in the student researchers was particularly rewarding.
“When we began the class, one of our students felt like there wasn’t a lot of hope for the future, but after completing the project, she felt that she could actually be part of the change in the world,” Davi said. “I think that transformation was one of the most beautiful outcomes of this work.”
To read more: ESG Gender Equality Report