Redesigning Equality and Scientific Excellence Together

Project Information

RESET

Grant agreement ID: 101006560

DOI

10.3030/101006560

Project closed

EC signature date 30 October 2020

Start date 1 January 2021

End date 31 December 2024

Funded under

• Promote gender equality in particular by supporting structural change in the organisation of research institutions and in the content and design of research activities

Total cost

€ 2 998 297,50

EU contribution

€ 2 998 297,50

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITE DE BORDEAUX
France

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - RESET (Redesigning Equality and Scientific Excellence Together)

Reporting period: 2023-07-01 to 2024-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

RESET is a project that analyses the interrelation between scientific excellence and gender through the lenses of co-design and intersectionality. Gender is not separated from other social characteristics - such as age or ethnicity, which may influence the recruitment and career progression of research and non-research staff or the distribution of research funding at universities and other research performing organisations. Presumably neutral, academic systems are still affected with gender inequalities, stereotypes, bias and discrimination. Issues such as gender-based violence in academia are regularly brought to the public debate, urging universities and research performing bodies to review their policies in this matter and to act decisively upon it. Long considered of minor relevance, the social agenda has been getting more and more visible and promoted in academia since the COVID-19 crisis and economic and societal challenges that hit the European Union.

To respond to that challenge, RESET has supported the development of two context-specific and inclusive Gender Equality Plans (GEPs 1.0 2022-2024 and GEPs 2.0 signed in 2024, whose implementation will continue after the end of the project) aimed at consolidating and enhancing policy of partners’ institutions for gender equality and diversity. These plans, now an eligibility criterion for accessing EU research funding, present a set of measures necessary to comply with national and European requirements with regard to achieving gender equality and bringing the gender dimension in research, and demonstrate the capability of institutions to identify problems and develop effective solutions to tackle any form of discriminations.
Partners’ GEPs are embedded into the RESET definition of an inclusive scientific excellence, which integrates criteria and indicators related to the governance, institutional culture, occupational equality and production and transfer of knowledge and are supported by various toolboxes, guidelines and extensive training programme produced during the project lifespan.

The objectives of RESET are therefore not only to install the conditions for fairer and more transparent academic systems, but also to tackle gender-blindness in career evaluation, prevent gender-based violence, promote work-life balance and integrate gender into research and teaching as a necessary component of excellent scientific environments. They were fully achieved by partners.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

RESET has been marked by the local implementation of the GEPs, built upon strong data collection and analysis, and placing the focus on the delivery of cultural and institutional change. Using a co-design approach, it involved various stakeholders, which facilitated the support of their institutions for the project. Gender Equality Boards endorsed GEPs, while key milestones were achieved: setting up or upgrading institutional systems dealing with gender-based violence and discrimination; setting up or enhancement of gender-disaggregated and intersectional data collection systems; spreading of recommendations or guidelines on the usage of gender-inclusive and diversity oriented communication; mainstreaming of the integration of a gender perspective into research and teaching contents, notably through the use of Gender Impact Assessment; organising training sessions to various stakeholders; assessing the collective dimension of scientific excellence and the important work of support services, thanks to media campaign; providing evidence for awareness raising thanks to a Gender Equality Awareness Platform. .
The institutional’s support is further reinforced by the adoption of a joint statement that expresses a bold institutional commitment for equality, diversity and scientific excellence. It presents scientific excellence as an encompassing concept that is not limited to quantitative indicators of scientific production and impact, as those used for international rankings. It is supported by a set of indicators, co-designed at the consortium level.

Another major turning point is the implementation of the Train-the-Trainers approach on the basis of a comprehensive gender equality / mainstreaming training toolbox useful for different trainee groups and national contexts. This process equipped several trainers in all RESET institutions to organise training session during and after the project.

Project’s outputs and actions were promoted through publications, events, joint actions with sister and other RRI projects, European University Alliances. RESET final conference was a key moment to explore and disseminate RESET results, while continuing engaging with other projects. At the consortium level, RESET outputs are available on its website and on Zenodo. The dissemination of RESET’s results was dedicated to policy-makers, as well as HEIs, RFOs, and researchers. Furthermore, scientific publications are prepared, including a book written with the participation of every partner, which will be available on Open Access. Together with a work in each institution to pursue RESET’s activities, this guarantees the sustainability of the project’s results.

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)

A major impact of the project has been the mainstreaming of the design, implementation and evaluation of GEPs into RESET universities. After having implemented their first GEPs fully aligned with EU and national regulations, all 4 GEP-implementing partners signed at the end of 2024 their second inclusive GEPs, to implement them after the project. The use of a co-design approach facilitates the engagement of various stakeholders within the institution and their commitment to those policies.

The design, implementation and evaluation of GEPs have been supported by the development of evidence-based instruments (such as GEPs, GE platform) that are relevant for policy makers, research funding organisations and the general public. Along with other results of the project, they contribute to increasing awareness on the issues of gender, age, disability, origin and other social factors as reasons of inequalities and underrepresentation in the academic environment, and should, eventually, attract a wider range of researchers, from different backgrounds.

RESET outputs include experience and complement tools and guides provided by the GEAR tool, with a focus on different topics, including integrating the gender dimension in results, working on work-life balance, reflecting on gender-inclusive communication, training academic communities among other things. Moreover, RESET results taking into consideration various national and socio-cultural contexts. Several project’s results provide a review of European and institutional policy making documents, contexts and incentives linked with topics of equality, diversity and inclusion.
By maximising impact of different tasks, communicating on and disseminating the results, the project achieves its targets by the end of its lifespan. Through establishing alliances with different stakeholders, relying on various approaches (training, presentations, webinars and workshops), reaching out European University Alliances, presenting the results to HEIs, funding organisations, policy-makers but also the wider society, and disseminating results in scientific publications, RESET strives to make a wider contribution to the achievement of the objectives of the ERA.

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