Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, some organisations had increased the availability of telework for a larger number of their employees (ZRC SAZU), or extended the option to work from home for a higher number of days (National Institute of Chemistry). This facilitates researchers to balance work and family life and organise their own time. The measure targeted employees of all genders, but is more beneficial to those with caring duties.
This initiative is based on a protocol between FCT and the national Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) established in 2008, which aims at the development of public policies to promote GE as well as strengthening research activities for the advancement of scientific knowledge in GE. FCT and CIG are also responsible for the initiative The GenderResearch4COVID-19 support. It aims at developing knowledge and helps addressing, in the short term, the pressing constraints placed on the individual/family/economy by the gendered social relations and reactions to the pandemic.
The independent Observatory for Research on Scientific Careers was created following the joint decision of representatives of the different French-speaking universities, the FWB and FNRS. It aims to create and follow up (missing and random) data on researchers in order to create a comprehensive, objective data collection. Its main goals are to monitor and use the expertise of different universities and partners to carry out analytical evaluations and statistics on researchers in the FWB.
NUIG’s Active Consent team conducted the original research that led to the development of the Active Consent Programme. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, launched the Active Consent Toolkit, including an eLearning module, in September 2020. It is a practical resource, research and strategy development tool that is aligned with the National Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions:
The Code of Ethics of the Transilvania University of Brașov is part of its 2016 Charter. The Code creates a promising framework to assure a safer work environment by providing detailed definitions of harassment and sexual harassment. The Law of National Education recommends that universities develop Codes of Ethics and Professional Deontology, but there is no legal requirement for universities to include provisions against gender-based violence, with most universities overlooking or sidelining the issue in their Codes.
The guidelines provide an overview of equal treatment and workplace bullying. They offer employees and students clear instructions on reporting violations of the principles of equal treatment and describe the procedure to resolve discrimination and bullying cases. Further information vordse kohtlemise juhend
As part of its GEP, UCT established the Julie Hamackova Award to support the integration of gender aspects into research and pedagogical work. The prize is awarded annually in three categories: (1) extraordinary contribution of women employees to the development of research, pedagogy and work in the academic sphere; (2) extraordinary contribution of employees in the field of support and promotion of equal opportunities in work relations and research at the University;
In 2019, the university launched the campaign ‘It starts with ME, together WE can’ as part of the international campaign ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’. The campaign aimed to demonstrate that everyone is personally responsible for taking the first step to end gender-based violence by challenging stereotypes and making small everyday behavioural changes that can lead to a large-scale shift in culture and attitudes to eliminate violence against women.
Since 2016, HKR has successfully worked with a model for equal distribution of internal research resources. The work started with a revision of the existing resource allocation model, as the old model was considered outdated. The earlier model resulted in an economical budget deficit for the university and allocated resources based on position (i.e. a fixed share of working hours allocated to “research time”).
The Basque Country University (UPV/EHU) undertook a one-year participatory process to design a protocol against gender-based violence that responds to the needs and reality of the university community. In June 2018, the protocol was approved, with the goal of promoting a safe environment for all in the university community. The protocol has several innovative aspects. Its broad definition of gender-based violence covers all sexist violence, including violence against LGBTIQ+ persons.
The Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI) is funding a research project, “Affectscapes of Care: Gender-Based Violence and Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic”. The project is funded in the framework of the 4th call (“Interventions”) of HFRI Science & Society to address the economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be carried out by the Department of Social Anthropology of Panteion University.
In 2021, the Gender Officer of the Catholic University of Louvain began a university-wide ‘Zero Tolerance’ campaign to combat harassment and sexual violence at student and faculty level. The campaign includes several measures: (1) mandatory online training for all students and staff (in French and English) to raise awareness of the different types of violence and the notion of consent;