Gender equality

Gender in research and innovation is an increasingly important topic to be considered throughout all stages of research, talent management and policy decisions. Not only do facts and figures show repeatedly alarming realities on gender in research (She figures) but also is there evidence that a thoughtful involvement of gendered thinking in R&I results in better research, better talent retention and better general outcomes. A novelty (2022) in Horizon Europe is that all public organization who receive funding must have a Gender Equality Plan in place. See EURAXESS Hubs overview of Gender Equality Plans

Read the GENDER EQUALITY FOCUS GROUP INTERVIEW REPORT

Gender overview for researchers

A gender balance within researcher teams is not simply having a balance of the sexes in the team. A good strategy for researchers of all stages is to reflect on a myriad of ways in which gender dimensions can be integrated into career developments of researchers as well as into the research itself. Here Euraxess Hubs provides a selection of tools, links and best practices for such an approach

Gendered Research
Gendered research. Integrating gender dimensions into the design of research projects is becoming increasingly important. This has become a criteria of excellence in Horizon Europe proposals and increases likelihood of getting funded, but it also results in better research
- The European Commission has created a comprehensive toolkit for the research community on how to integrate gender into all research areas: Toolkit Gender in EU-funded research
- Gendered innovations 2 - How inclusive analysis contributes to research and innovation : policy review. This report contains definitions of terms and methods relating to sex, gender and intersectional analysis, interdisciplinary case studies displaying how to integrate the gender dimension into various fields of research and innovation, as well as concrete policy recommendations
- Trinity College for Gender Equality and Leadership and SAGE project. Video and training tools for implementing gender dimensions in research
Self-assessment tools
Take these online tests to assess your understanding of gender in research
- A short animation and briefing on understanding unconscious bias in selection panels, by the Royal Society
- GEAM offers a useful “demo questionnaire” for implementing gender equality audits and monitoring. Survey results are not stored but the questionnaire is a useful tool for self-reflections on typical gender equality issues within academia
- Gender bias learning project: A zany brainy look at a serious subject . Although gender bias is a serious topic with professionally damaging consequences, WorkLife Law’s gender bias training website offers a zany, brainy approach that allows you to learn what you need to know, share your experiences, and have fun in the process
- Trinity College for Gender Equality and Leadership and SAGE project. Understanding Unconscious Bias: video and self-assessment tool
Networking
One successful tool for bettering gender balance within academia is to consult with networking initiatives and platforms. Here are some good examples of networking initiatives
- The European Platform of Women Scientists is an international non-profit organisation that represents the needs, concerns, interests, and aspirations of more than 12.000 women scientists in Europe and beyond
Workshops, training and coaching
Take a look at some online workshops, training and coaching
- A selection of videos from the Target project, best practices, thoughts and insights
- Free online course: “Integrating gender into your scientific research”
- European University Association webinar on women in academia. Recording of webinar available
Mentoring Programmes
- Gender-sensitive mentoring programme in academia: A design process

Gender Dimensions for Institutions

In this section you will find an overview of Gender Equality Plans, listing the most important documents, guides on the topic. Institutions can take advantage of this platform for drafting and implementing a gender equality plan, which has become mandatory for any proposals in Horizon Europe.

Gender in the HR process
Recruitment
- FESTA Handbook on Resistance to Gender Equality in Academia
- EIGE case studies on gender sensitive recruitment. Workshop: Bias-sensitising - Quality assurance for personnel selection
- Practical Guide to Improve Gender Equality in Research Organisations”
Working conditions
- EIGE case study: Maternity cover fund and return to work policies. Good practices
- Toolkit to enhance gender sensitive PhD supervision for supervisors

Gender Audits
- Gender audit - Definition and purpose
- Gender monitoring. How to build up a set of indicators for gender-sensitive monitoring?
- SAGE audit guidelines and checklist
Data and concepts
- SAGE primary data collection tools
- FESTA Toolkit “Towards raising organizational awareness” Part 1 Collecting and understanding statistics
- Structural transformation to achieve gender equality in science: Guidelines
- LERU: Women, research and universities: excellence without gender bias
- The path towards gender equality in research and innovation (R&I) - Figures 2021
- Gender Equality Index
- GEDII - Gender Diversity Index; Information on the index: Improving research and innovation through gender diversity. Introduction to the topic
- Exploring quotas in academia
- Mapping organisational work-life policies and practices
Gender competence training
- Gender Equality Training: Gender Mainstreaming Toolkit; How to: guiding principles for commissioning authorities
- Gender in EU-funding research - Toolkit and training
- GE-Academy, capacity-building programme on gender equality in research, innovation and higher education
- Strategic career planning for female junior scientists: A how-to guide to nine training workshops, developed by the FESTA project
- AKKA leadership programme: Attracting more women into academic leadership positions

Mentoring (Set up)
- Gender-sensitive Mentoring Programme in Academia: A Design Process
- Mentoring Programs: A tool to develop gender equality, diversity, internationalism and interdisciplinarity in research and academia

Self assesment tools
- SAGE short quizzes: to find out what you know about women in the EU research sector. The quizzes: SAGE-Growing Equality; SAGE Quiz Wheel of Data

/ Implicit association tests: gender-science test and gender-career test.

/ Understanding unconscious bias.
Gender Equality Plans GEPs
With the introduction/start of Horizon Europe, the European Commission made gender equality plans (GEPs) a basic requirement for participation in its research framework programme.
It defined GEPs as: “a set of commitments and actions that aim to promote gender equality in an organisation through a process of structural change” (source: European Institute for Gender Equality).
The Gender Team worked on best practices and recommendations regarding GEPs and it is published on the ECs webite.

Learn more here: Gender Equality Plans | EURAXESS (europa.eu)