Policy recommendations

No data: No policies! The MINDtheGEPs approach to evidence-based policies for GEPs

Facts and figures strengthen our ability to undertake cultural and structural actions towards Gender Equality. We believe that sharing MINDtheGEPs knowledge on gender imbalances can contribute to sustainable change. We have collected both qualitative and quantitative data from project partners' organisations. This policy brief includes recommendations for how to build an evidence-based foundation for gender equality plans (GEPs) in research performing organisations, based on the assumption that without data, there will be no policy. This policy brief has also been translated to Spanish, Serbian & Polish.

Solera, Cristina, Balzano, Angela, Turco, Federica, Pisacane, Lucio, Fernow, Josepine (2023). No data- No policies! The MINDtheGEPs approach to evidence-based policies for Gender Equality Plans. Zenodo, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7785413

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Gender quotas & positive action: An attack on meritocracy? Structural incentives for gender balance in research organisations

Taking steps to address gender imbalances is essential to ensure women's career progress and promote diverse and inclusive research environments. Positive action (sometimes referred to as positive discrimination or affirmative action) is widely acknowledged as a crucial tool for achieving this goal. However, resistance persists, and opinions diverge about which are the most effective and valid strategies. This policy brief provides an overview of the multifaceted debate around positive action, the arguments for, arguments against, and pathways for implementation. The policy brief draws insight from the Gender Equality Plan development process of and interviews performed by MINDtheGEPs. It ends by presenting two case studies from Italian universities.

Cipriani, Nastassja., Solera, Cristina., & Holm Bodin, Anna. (2023). Gender quotas & positive action: An attack on meritocracy?. Zenodo. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10024373

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Empowering women in leadership & decision-making: Critically addressing conscious & unconscious gender biases

Women are underrepresented in decision-making processes in research performing organisations. With recent reports stating the EU will reach gender equality in 60 years, there is plenty of work to do right now. The MINDtheGEPs project works to deconstruct the gendered bias that men make better leaders, to introduce gender equality targets in key decision-making bodies at partner institutions and as a result keep European research competitive. With these recommendations, we support gender equality in research by showing research performing organisations and teams how they can work to counter the pervasive belief that women self-select towards inequality, that they lack confidence and competitiveness, and prioritize family over career, and that this is what causes their choice of research fields, time allocation between research and teaching, and publishing strategies. These recommendations also challenge the notion that leadership is associated with masculine traits.

Antequera, Gema., Holm Bodin, Anna. & Lomba Peréz, Adrián. (2024) Empowering women in leadership & decision-making: Critically addressing conscious & unconscious biases. Zenodo. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10912

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Empowering women in research careers: Training early career researchers to promote gender equality

Despite an increasing number of women entering research careers, few of them end up in leadership roles compared to their male colleagues. MINDtheGEPs' training initiatives target these challenges head-on, fostering skills development and creating a culture of gender equality within partner organisations. Now, we share our best practice advice in a brief format.

This brief is based on a MINDtheGEPs deliverable, which in turn is based on a combination of desk research, our expertise, partners’ experiences, and existing guidelines. This deliverable includes a set of overall recommendations supporting academic and non-academic organisations to foster the awareness of gender issues in the field of recruitment, retention and career progression. Our guidelines on planned actions are developed to help to understand and prepare organisational change, which should improve gender equality in any institution.​

Krzemińska, Katarzyna., Migalska, Alexandra., Sekuła, Paulina., Stoecker, Ewa. (2024) Empowering women in research careers: Training early career researchers to promote gender equality. Zenodo. DOI: 10.5281/ zenodo.11032882

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Raising awareness & challenging stereotypes: Training senior leaders to promote gender equality

Gender disparities persist in academia, particularly in senior leadership positions, despite a growing number of women earning PhDs. To address this, MINDtheGEPs offers specialised training for influential roles in decision-making bodies and committees (e.g. Rectors, V-ce Rectors, Chancellors, Deans, V-ce Deans, Directors, administrative and research team leaders, managerial staff at non-academic RPOs).

This brief is based on a MINDtheGEPs deliverable, which in turn is based on a combination of desk research, our expertise, partners’ experiences, and existing guidelines. This deliverable includes a set of overall recommendations supporting academic and non-academic organisations to foster the awareness of gender issues in the field of recruitment, retention and career progression. Our guidelines on planned actions are developed to help to understand and prepare organisational change, which should improve gender equality in any institution.

Krzemińska, Katarzyna., Migalska, Alexandra., Sekuła, Paulina., Stoecker, Ewa (2024) Raising awareness & challenging stereotypes. Training senior leaders to promote gender equality. Zenodo. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1108227

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