During the second reporting period, SUPPORTER advanced beyond the state of the art by successfully completing the transition from design to implementation of inclusive and transformative institutional practices across eight sports higher education institutions. The project achieved the formal adoption of eight Inclusive, Innovative, Intersectional, and Impactful Gender Equality Plans (4I-GEPs) - the first comprehensive frameworks of their kind tailored specifically to the sports education sector. These 4I-GEPs operationalise gender equality in institutional governance, curricula, and research, while explicitly integrating the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) and an intersectional approach addressing multiple and overlapping forms of discrimination. They combine evidence-based methodologies, practical monitoring tools, and sport-specific dimensions such as teamwork, inclusion, and fair play, thereby translating equality principles into the unique context of sports academia.
At the methodological and policy level, SUPPORTER’s results establish a replicable model for institutional transformation that can be scaled across Europe and other sectors. The project developed and implemented an integrated capacity-building, mutual learning, and mentoring framework – including six training sessions, workshops, bilateral exchanges, and reflection tools – that strengthened institutional capacity and fostered peer-to-peer learning. The SUPPORTER Guidelines and Recommendations (D4.3) and open-access resources (training materials, policy briefs, and video) provide a robust knowledge base for policymakers, educators, and sports organisations seeking to embed gender equality and inclusivity in practice. By embedding sustainability mechanisms such as internal audit procedures, formal endorsement of 4I-GEPs, and the creation of the SUPPORTER Network, the project ensured lasting institutional change. Collectively, these achievements position SUPPORTER as a European pioneer in mainstreaming intersectional gender equality and GBV prevention within sports education and research environments, setting a new benchmark for inclusive institutional reform.
