EGERA - Effective Gender Equality in Research and the Academia

Abstract

EGERA brings together eight research and higher education institutions in seven EU member states (Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain) + Turkey, bound by a same commitment to the dual objective of achieving gender equality in research, and strengthening the gender dimension in research. Made up of five universities covering an ample array of disciplines, from social sciences to STEM, a research centre on climate change belonging to the Czech Academy of Science, an independent evaluation structure specialized in the design and monitoring of gender equality plans, EGERA is coordinated by Sciences Po, a leading institution in social sciences in Europe. With view to bring about sustainable and measurable cultural and organizational changes to promote gender equality, EGERA has secured the full support of the top management structures of its respective partner institutions. Fully-fledged Gender Equality Action Plans (GEAPs) will be implemented and continuously enhanced along this four-yearlong project by the seven implementing partners. GEAPs will articulate a structural understanding of gender inequalities and bias in research with a set of actions covering the most salient issues with respect to the recruitment, retention, appraisal and empowerment of women in research, and to the mainstreaming of gender knowledge across disciplinary fields. Drawing upon innovative methods, of which some have been experimented and evaluated under previous/on-going FP7 projects, our cumulative and inclusive approach will notably support the operationalization of structural changes with both an intensive and extensive use of gender training, as an instrument for effective gender mainstreaming strategies. Mobilizing considerable gender expertise and relying upon multi-level women in science policy networks, EGERA will also put efforts into the dissemination of its outputs and achievements across the European Research Area.