Knowledge sharing to set the foundation for gender equality
MINDtheGEPs partners share the common challenge of modifying their institutions. This includes taking action to counteract the structures and cultures that currently uphold gender imbalances in each partner organisation. This will be achieved by implementing gender equality plans. And for those plans to work out, we need capacity-building on gender equality within partner organisations. The 7 MINDtheGEPs partners implementing gender equality plans will offer training in their organisation. In June, we meet in Vigo, Spain, to transfer knowledge between partners, and educate our respective local trainers to ensure a common vision.
“In the first year of the project, our focus has been on collecting data to support the development of fit-for-purpose gender equality plans. Now, with that data and the analysis of the push-and-pull factors of gender imbalances at partner organisations available, it is time to launch our work to counter them. Starting with alignment between partners on best practice,” says Lucio Pisacane, researcher and leading the MINDtheGEPs work at the National Research Council of Italy.
Step one is meeting, face-to-face for the first time as a consortium, to provide members of the consortium with shared knowledge on the GEPs implementation. And start to prepare the local trainers who will conduct training, within the so-called laboratories, for colleagues in their own organisations. Targeting both men and women in early and late stages of their careers. To raise awareness of the existence and significance of gender imbalances, deconstruct assumptions about what causes them, and discuss possible solutions in the Breaking Stereotypes at the Top Laboratory and Empowering Laboratory – targeting gender imbalances at different levels of partner organisations.
MINDtheGEPs training activities are focusing on key areas of research organisations and the everyday lives of researchers. Reinforcing the structures that are needed to monitor and maintain the actions taken, trying to balance recruitment, retention and career progression, improve work-life balance for all, empower women in decision-making, and introduce gender dimensions to research and teaching at partner organisations.
Meeting in June will be an important first step towards establishing a joint understanding between partners of what should be achieved and how. Defining our aims and methodologies, and setting realistic and measurable goals. According to the team in monitoring the design of fit-for-purpose gender equality plans, agreeing on goals is key to the systemic implementation of these training laboratories. We are also grateful to have the opportunity to learn from sister projects when we meet in Vigo, making sure knowledge is transferred not only between partners but also across projects with similar experiences.
“Starting from the extensive assessment of gender imbalances performed by partners in the first months of the project, this first workshop is an indication of the launch of our more hands-on work on developing gender equality plans. But we start with the end in mind. Making sure to stay focused on sustainability already from the beginning,” says Ilaria Di Tullio, gender expert, researcher and coordinator of the MINDtheGEPs training activities.
By Anna Holm