In November 2021, women scientists from the Institute of Microbiology organised a workshop during which women researchers from the Ivory Coast and Germany exchanged scientific information and discussed opportunities for career advancement. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), together with various partners from science, business, social partners, media, associations and others, has started an initiative to encourage significantly more young women to take up future careers in STEM subjects especially in Africa. The workshop was organised as part of this BMBF initiative. Dr. Nicole Finocchiaro from the "Women-in-Science Network Medicine Münster" presented the goals of the WisNetMed network.

At universities in Africa, women make up only a third of all researchers. In Germany, the proportion of women at the beginning of their studies and in the first few years of employment is higher than in Africa, but both nations have one thing in common: in academic management positions, male colleagues still dominate.