Fojo Media Institute at Linnaeus University in Sweden, in partnership with the Communication and Journalism Education Network (CJEN) in Bangladesh, invites communication, media and/or journalism departments in Bangladesh to apply to the Women Media Leaders of Tomorrow (WMLT) initiative (Second Round), which is part of the EU-funded AGILE-programme. Three universities will be selected to participate in the course that will be implemented during Spring 2026.
About the WMLT-initiative.
The WMLT initiative is designed to prepare female journalism students for future leadership roles in media. Participants will take part in a hands-on management course offering:
- A 3-day residential in the Dhaka area
- Student certificate of completion from Fojo Media Institute/Linnaeus University, Sweden
- Access to the WMLT alumni network
Each participating department/university will receive a grant of €3,400 to support course delivery and related activities. The course will be delivered in person by Mrs. Kersti Forsberg, a Swedish media leadership expert, in Spring 2026. Exact dates will be confirmed at a later stage.
Participating departments/universities will be expected to:
- Select eight final-year female journalism students for participation in WMLT
- Support course delivery and student participation
- Collaborate with Fojo, CJEN Bangladesh, and other universities in the region
- Provide feedback on the course
- Submit a short narrative and financial report at the end of the course
Eligibility
Media, communication and/or journalism departments at accredited Bangladeshi universities with:
- A faculty member committed to gender-inclusive journalism education
- At least eight female final-year students who are motivated to participate actively in the course. The students must have a strong academic track record and be fluent in English
- Previous WMLT grant recipients need not apply.
How to apply
Any full-time faculty member of a media, communication and/or journalism department of an accredited Bangladeshi university can submit his/her application by 28 February 2026 via this link: AGILE Jan 2026: Open Call: Women Media Leaders of Tomorrow (WMLT) Initiative in Bangladesh. N.B. This deadline will not be extended.
Assessment process: The application is jointly assessed by Fojo Media Institute and CJEN based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrating a strong motivation to participate, e.g. clearly outlining how the extracurricular course benefits your students and the university.
- Endorsement from decision-making authorities (either the Department Head, Dean, Registrar, PVC or VC) is required. N.B. If the Department Head (who may also be the Dean) is applying, he or she should get the endorsement from either the Registrar, Pro Vice Chancellor or Vice Chancellor.
- Demonstrating strong ability to manage university funds regardless of size.
We do not base our assessment of your application on whether you are a public or private university, whether your faculty staff are male or female, or whether you have previously received foreign grants.
Selected universities will receive guidance on managing the grant and delivering the course. For questions about the application process, contact Prof. Dr. Jude William Genilo at jude.genilo@ulab.edu.bd.
AGILE is a global consortium (2025-2028) which aims to strengthen independent journalism globally, supported by the European Union. The consortium members are Internews Europe, Fojo Media Institute, CFI Développement Médias, Thomson Media and ARTICLE 19. Fojo Media Institute leads workstream 5: The future of journalism.
Fojo looks forward to your application and working together to strengthen journalism education in Bangladesh.
