Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MINDtheGEPs (Modifying Institution by Developing Gender Equality Plans) Reporting period: 2021-02-01 to 2022-04-30 Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project Gender imbalance is still a widespread phenomenon in Academia and in the research fields, despite the efforts made in the last decade in Europe to foster gender equality at all institutional levels. Replication of the existing mechanisms, cultural barriers and structural constraints are acknowledged determinants of gender inequalities.MINDtheGEPs Project (Modifying Institution by Developing Gender Equality Plans, G.A. 101006543) aims at identifying and addressing the obstacles toward gender equality in Research Performing Organizations (RPOs), in line with the European Research Area’s key priorities on gender equality. It aims at removing barriers to recruitment, retention and career progression of female researchers, addressing gender imbalances in decision making and strengthening the gender dimension in research. It addresses these challenges by supporting a process of systemic cultural and structural change in RPOs and by fostering excellence and the social value of research. In particular, it aims to: implement 7 GEPs in the implementing partner institutions; strengthen and complement National Frameworks; monitor the gender gap reduction to increase research value and innovation excellence; improve the diversification of scientific teams, in terms of human resources, research contents and publications and teaching curricula.MINDtheGEPs takes a multidisciplinary multidimensional approach to challenging gender imbalances across five different countries with still traditional gender regimes (Italy, Spain, Serbia, Ireland, Poland) and across various types of RPOs, the seven “GEP implementing partners”: 4 public universities (University of Turin, Munster Technological University, University of Gdańsk, Jagiellonian University) and 1 public non-academic research institute (CNR); 1 academic (the School of Electrical Engineering-University of Belgrade) and 1 private technological institute (Automotive Technology Centre of Galicia). The consortium, led by the University of Turin’s CIRSDe, comprises also three non-implementing organizations bringing expertise in monitoring and evaluation (Knowledge and Innovation), research communication (Uppsala University) and scientific publishing (Elsevier). Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far The preliminary stage of the GEPs elaboration was dedicated to the engagement of key-actors and assessment of the current situation related to gender equality issues in all MINDtheGEPs’ implementing partners. In order to gain knowledge about the state of the art of each institution, the WP2 was dedicated to this aim, given that this preliminary step is pivotal to design GEPs responsive to the specific national and organisational needs and challenges. Under the supervision of University of Turin, all implementing partners have conducted firstly research on the macro-level focusing on national legal framework, secondly three different kind of data gathering and analysis: a quantitative data collection on meso-level, a survey on gender equality policies and perception, a qualitative analysis targeting both key informants and researchers on micro-level. In order to increase research value and innovation excellence, it was fruitful to take into account the Consortium diversity thanks to the study conducted in D2.1 Report on gender imbalances at macro-level (WP2), thus enabling the RPOs to implement actions consistent with their contexts. It is, in fact, important to underline that partners’ different national legal frameworks affect both careers and science.The ‘leaky pipeline’ and the ‘glass ceiling’ phenomenon, crucial to monitor the gender gap, have been reported in D2.2 Report on gender imbalance at meso-level (WP2). Furthermore, D2.2 includes not only these, but a more complex set of indicators divided into the same key areas of the GEPs, thus defining a baseline of indicators to be used for subsequent comparisons at mid-term and at the project’s end. The self-tailored GEPs are conceived to tackle different Key areas, covering both the issue of gender equality within the organisation and gender mainstreaming in research and teaching. Hence, WP3 (Designing GEPs for systemic institutional change) focuses on actions related to institutional and governmental changes, WP4 (Balancing recruitment, retention and career progression) and WP5 (Empowering women in decision making process) focuses on human resources in terms of career advancement and waste of talent as well in terms of work-life balance, while WP6 (Gendering Research and Teaching) addresses the integration of the sex and gender dimensions both in research and training, aiming at inserting the variables in teaching curricula at all levels. As it is understandable since the first objective is centred around the elaboration, implementation and monitoring of self-tailored Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) in the partners involved, thus WP3 represents the core work-package. Up to know GEPs are in the process of being implemented, and to this aim partners had already established National Committee and a web discussion forum. National Committee has the objective of connecting the GEP design and implementation with the political level. The MINDtheGEPs Forum, on a trimestral base, is an online meeting space where partners and experts share knowledge and resources. Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far) MINDtheGEPs’ impact can be described as follows up to now:- At the internal level, the project permitted attaining a profounder understanding on the gender biases and imbalances. Every implementing partner has now a deeper knowledge of its present practices and procedures on gender equality, as well as the practices and procedures that should be adopted to guarantee meaningful improvements. The Project also facilitated the increasing of gender awareness among staff and governing/managing bodies, since the quantitative and qualitative analysis had a participatory approach. Precisely, the quantitative and qualitative data collection engaged key-actors and many employees (both teaching/research and administrative/technical staff). It was a pivotal step to activate stakeholders groups to be gradually involved in the GEPs implementation. - At the external level, the project activities had an impact on other RPOs willing to develop their own GEPs, thanks to WP8 (Dissemination&Communication), that not only aims at spreading project’s activities, but also at sharing meaningful and adaptable resources – best practices, tools and methodologies – that will facilitate other European RPOs in pursuing a systemic institutional change. Furthermore, also WP3 already had an external impact thanks to: the web forum that involved project partners, sister projects, advisory board and professional associations; the national committees that involve national key actors. As for the expected results, implementing GEPs in seven public and private institutions, most of them with a large number of employees and in one case (CNR) on a national scale, will increase the number of research organisations which systemically counteract gender inequalities. Moreover, the process will generate new practical knowledge that MINDtheGEPs will disseminate and use to promote structured and concerted efforts to implement changes within other European institutions engaged in research and education. In order to achieve this impact, it will develop a strategy for the communication and dissemination, sustainability and exploitation of the project’s results. MINDtheGEPs Key Areas
