• Data collection and monitoring

    Main Section Videos & Webinars Tools & Resources Gender equality plans (GEPs) or any other gender equality ad hoc initiatives need to be grounded in evidence. Before you can plan any measures, you need to know how your organisation is doing regarding gender equality and which areas you need to focus on. This initial assessment of the status quo of...

  • Training: awareness-raising and capacity building

    Main Section Videos & Webinars Tools & Resources In order to initiate a structural change process towards better gender equality in an organisation, awareness of gender inequality and knowledge about gender issues in management, but also in the workforce, is of central importance (see success factors). Awareness-raising efforts aim to generate and stimulate sensitivity to issues related to gender (in)equality...

  • Gender Equality Plan development and implementation

    Main Section Videos & Webinars Tools & Resources In this section of the action toolbox, we highlight two fields of action that we consider crucial for the development and implementation of a gender equality plan (GEP), and which have the character of a cross-cutting issue: engaging stakeholders; developing structures to support gender equality work. Engaging stakeholders An effective GEP is...

  • Gender-sensitive research funding procedures

    Main Section Videos & Webinars Tools & Resources Gender equality plans (GEPs) of research funding bodies should, on the one hand, address internal stakeholders and processes, similar to research-performing organisations (internal career development, internal decision-making and leadership, internal sexual harassment policies). On the other hand, external stakeholders and the whole funding cycle need to be addressed from a gender perspective...

  • Comprehensive funding support scheme for parents at German RFO (DE)

    The Volkswagen Foundation, a private research funding organisation in Germany, has developed a comprehensive funding support scheme for parents. Although it is directed to parents of either sex, also including adopting parents, it has a clear gender sensitive approach, aiming at lowering the burden and career cost of parenting for early career female researchers. Funding is available for male or...

  • Teaching-free period when returning from parental leave (DK)

    Since 2012, one of the ways in which the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) has implemented measures addressing gender equality is by supporting work-life balance. With the implementation of internal guidelines regarding parental leave, SDU initiated two specific measurers: 1) while away on parental leave, the researchers are offered continuously academic updates and 2) when returning from parental leave, the...

  • Family-leave without consequences for the academic career (FI)

    Hanken School of Economics (Finland) automatically extends temporary contracts of teaching and research personnel if they have been absent due to maternity, paternity and parental leave. The policy was included in the Human Resources instructions of the School in 2010, and it is also inscribed in its gender equality and non-discrimination plan. The policy was adopted in order to support...

  • Maternity Cover Fund and Return to Work policy (UK)

    In Queens University Belfast (QUB) (UK), all Schools have return to work policies, which are funded by the Schools and, where feasible, allow for either a six month teaching free period on return from maternity leave, or a greatly reduced teaching load. This policy began in Science, Engineering and Technology Schools in QUB and has since expanded. It began following...

  • Reconciliation of professional activity and personal/family life (PT)

    The promotion of equality between women and men and non-discrimination is one of the spheres of activity of IST (part of the University of Lisbon) [1]. IST launched an innovative measure at national level in 2016 to facilitate the reconciliation of professional activity and personal/family life. The initiative exempts professors who have taken parental leave (at least 100 days) from...

  • Introduction of family-friendly measures – University of Debrecen (HU)

    The University of Debrecen offers its employees training and programmes to promote work-life balance and better mental health. The measure focuses on workshops and trainings for parents. However, there is also a crèche and a kindergarten, as well as childcare support at university events. The financial resources for the implementation are covered from the university budget and the grants received...

  • Riga Stradins University’s (RSU) long-term gender equality’ goal (LV)

    Riga Stradins University (RSU) has yet to adopt a GEP. However, the “Sustainable Development Goals” section of its website emphasises “the person” as the RSU’s main value. It notes that gender equality is an integral value of the university and one of the basic elements for successful work, stating “gender equality = sustainable development”. RSU publishes current information on the...

  • Dependent care leave policy – Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics (CING) (CY)

    The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics initiated the Dependant Care Leave in 2018. It is a special paid leave designed to support staff in cases of serious health conditions related to dependants. Alongside the right of unpaid leave, the institute made provisions for paid dependant care leave and is granted after the employee has exhausted their annual plus their...