News

The EC has published the Framework for the integration and evaluation of inclusive gender analysis in research and innovation content 

GENDERACTIONplus has collaborated in the development of this Framework by providing policy advice to the ERA Forum Subgroup on Inclusive Gender Equality. In February 2024, an ad hoc task force was created within the Subgroup and led by WP4 and RFO CoP leaders, which has fulfilled one of the expected outcomes of ERA Action 5 ‘Gender Equality and Inclusiveness’ of the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024.  National authorities, funding agencies and umbrella organisations, along with the Gender Sector of the DG RTD, support an inclusive gender analysis in R&I content as the way to move forward this field of gender equality policies in R&I. An inclusive gender analysis means:  The principles agreed among the Subgroup for the design, implementation and evaluation of these policies include:  GENDERACTIONplus is proud of having contributed to this outcome and hopes that all the relevant actors involved (national authorities, funding agencies, RPOs, scientific journals among others)...

Shaping the Future: GENDERACTIONplus Conference Calls for Stronger Gender Equality in FP10

In a fitting tribute to the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the GENDERACTIONplus final conference convened in Brussels under the patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Bringing together a distinguished assembly of policymakers, civil servants, gender equality practitioners, researchers, and key stakeholders, the conference served as a critical forum for assessing progress on inclusive gender equality within the European Research Area (ERA). The conference occurred at a critical moment amid ongoing policy negotiations and increasing political challenges to gender equality. “We are now facing a real threat, a real gender backlash, which is to dilute commitment to ensure gender and mainstreaming in Research and Innovation and to reduce investment in gender research. This is just unacceptable, absolutely not acceptable,” stated Lina Gálvez, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), in her opening remarks. Over the past...

Our conference Towards New Horizons is over. Read an opening word from the Project Coordinator

Dear colleagues and friends, For the past four years I have had the honour to work in GENDERACTIONplus with amazing colleagues to coordinate and enhance inclusive gender equality policies in European Research and Innovation through the work of our incredibly motivated Communities of Practice of national authorities and research funding organisations. Today, we are meeting to celebrate what we have achieved together, and what our consortium members have achieved in their national and organizational settings. This entire time, we have worked in an unprecedented period of positive policy development. This was the time that the issue of gender-based violence started to be addressed at the policy level for the first time, with Czech Presidency kicking off the new ERA Policy Agenda in 2022 with a conference on ending gender-based violence, followed by the Spanish presidency the year after, and the Zero Tolerance Code of Conduct adopted by the ERA Forum...

Campaign for zero tolerance to gender-based violence

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November and the 16 days of activism that follow, the GenderSAFE and GENDERACTIONplus projects are launching a joint campaign to urge higher education and research institutions to take definitive action against gender-based violence. We urge our institutions to take definitive action against gender-based violence. Real change begins with commitment. That is why, in this campaign, we will bring attention to the critical need for advancing zero tolerance, providing concrete recommendations, and spotlighting institutions who have already committed to take action by taking the pledge for a zero-tolerance approach. Why is a zero-tolerance approach important? Nearly 62% of respondents in the UniSAFE survey reported experiences of gender-based violence, but 93% students and 77% staff disclosed not considering the behaviour serious enough to report, not recognising the behaviour as violence at the time of the incident,...

Building a more inclusive ERA: Calling for Stronger Intersectional Policies in EU Research

On 22 October, the European Commission released a communication on the European Research Area (ERA), emphasizing the need for more inclusive gender equality plans. GENDERACTIONplus supports this recommendation and, in its position paper A New ERA of Inclusion and Intersectionality, highlights the key gaps and delivers recommendations to address them.   Four years ago, the Commission adopted a Communication titled ‘A new ERA for Research and Innovation’ which described a new vision for a stronger European Research Area (ERA). In its latest communication, titled Implementation of the European Research Area (ERA) and published on 22 October, the Commission reflects on progress made and identifies areas for improvement. In relation to the ERA priority of inclusive gender equality, the Commission acknowledges that there is “Scope for stronger action to develop inclusive gender equality plans and policies that address intersecting inequalities and discrimination on the grounds of gender, gender orientation, ethnicity, age, sexual...

Supporting Inclusive Gender Equality in the New Commission: Open Letter to Commissioner Zaharieva

On 18 September 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented her Political Guidelines for the next European Commission and Commissioners-Designates. The Mission Letter for Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva, however, did not address gender equality, inclusiveness, or the position of women in research within her portfolio. This omission prompted GENDERACTIONplus to take action to ensure that the progress made in recent years on promoting gender equality in research and innovation (R&I) at the Commission level would continue. To this end, GENDERACTIONplus organized an open letter urging Commissioner Zaharieva to prioritize inclusive gender equality in R&I, particularly in the upcoming Framework Programme 10. We emphasized the critical importance of maintaining Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) as an eligibility criterion. Evidence consistently shows that GEPs have had a profound impact, particularly in countries with less advanced gender equality policies in research and higher education. This policy serves as vital backing for gender equality...

Introducing the online course on Gender Dimension in Research and Innovation for National Contact Points

We are delighted to announce that the Gender Dimension in Research and Innovation online course, tailored specifically for National Contact Points of Horizon Europe, is now available on the NCP Virtual Campus. The aim of this online course is to enhance the capacity of National Contact Points (NCP) as key actors in the Framework Programme by fostering a deeper understanding and application of gender analysis in R&I proposals. Integrating the gender dimension is crucial for promoting inclusivity and advancing the quality of research and innovation across Europe. The course is introductory and contains eight learning units that combine video lessons, downloadable materials, quizzes, a repository of additional resources, and an evaluation questionnaire to track progress and gather feedback. Examples of topics covered: This comprehensive approach will support NCPs in offering tailored guidance to researchers and helping them meet the “Excellence” award criterion in Horizon Europe proposals. We kindly ask you...

GENDERACTIONplus introduces a campaign on resistances

As we prepared for our Mutual Learning Workshop on resistance to gender equality policy efforts, GENDERACTIONplus created a social media campaign on the topic to attract attention and raise awareness of the issue. Our Mutual Learning Workshop brought together members of our two Communities of Practice to learn more about various forms of resistance to gender equality, build competence to react to these resistances, and practice self-care in the face of them. Two months prior to the workshop, we delved into the topic to share and develop knowledge with the GENDERACTIONplus followers on social media. The social media campaign on GENDERACTIONplus’ LinkedIn and platform X accounts aimed to attract attention to the issue of resistance to gender equality efforts in research and innovation and share insights into ways to overcome various forms of resistance. Our goal was to collect thoughts with our stakeholder communities, find like-minded allies, and collect thoughts...

National updates on gender equality in R&I

The Higher Education (HEA) Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, hosted the first HEA National Equality, Diversity and Inclusion conference on the 9th and 10th of April 2024 in Dublin, Ireland. Approximately 150 colleagues involved in equality, diversity and inclusion in the Irish higher education sector were in attendance to hear from national and international experts across the two days. Speakers and panels discussed advancing gender equality, advancing intersectional approaches to EDI, advancing race equality and ending sexual violence and harassment. The HEA was delighted to have the participation of our GENDERACTIONplus colleagues in sessions across the two days, alongside colleagues from INSPIRE and the OECD, highlighting international perspectives on equality, diversity and inclusion.  Estonian Research Council continued discussions on gender equality issues in R&I with the main national stakeholders, including  the Ministry of Science and Education, Commissioner for Equal Opportunities, Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, Department of...

GENDERACTIONplus gathered for a Mutual Learning Workshop and consortium meeting

The Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities hosted a consortium meeting of the GENDERACTIONplus project and on this occasion, the Spanish capital also became an action spot for a Mutual Learning Workshop on resistance to gender equality for the project’s two Communities of Practice. Policymakers and representatives of research funding organisations took part in the workshop and discussed the various forms of resistance to gender equality they encounter, exchanged information on ways of building competences for reacting to resistance, and shared their practices for self-care in the face of resistance. The consortium meeting of GENDERACTIONplus, held on 13 June in Madrid, discussed the recent updates and upcoming plans of the GENDERACTIONplus project, which is heading into its final stage. “We are grateful that we found a home for our consortium meeting in Madrid,” stated Marcela Linková, project coordinator and Member State Co-Chair of the ERA Forum Subgroup on Inclusive...