Periodic Reporting for period 3 - SPEAR (Supporting and Implementing Plans for Gender Equality in Academia and Research)
Reporting period: 2022-01-01 to 2023-04-30
SPEAR addresses the pervasive problem with gender inequality in academia by implementing gender equality plans (GEPs) as a driver for structural and cultural change.
This is important to society, because mitigating gender inequality in academia helps ensure fair, sustainable, and equal universities.
The overall objectives are: (1) increasing the number of European Research Organisations with implemented GEPs, (2) removing barriers and improving career prospects for women in academia, (3) improving the gender balance in decision-making bodies, and (4) strengthening the gender dimension in research content.
This is important to society, because mitigating gender inequality in academia helps ensure fair, sustainable, and equal universities.
The overall objectives are: (1) increasing the number of European Research Organisations with implemented GEPs, (2) removing barriers and improving career prospects for women in academia, (3) improving the gender balance in decision-making bodies, and (4) strengthening the gender dimension in research content.
Throughout the SPEAR project, partners have successfully defined, endorsed, and launched comprehensive Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) that align with the HEU's GEP eligibility criterion. These GEPs, a total of nine, have been uploaded on SPEAR's website and widely promoted. Partners have received timely input and collegial feedback on their GEP implementation through online exchanges between project learning and support meetings (PLSMs), addressing relevant topics based on partners' needs. This targeted support has exceeded the initial expectations outlined in SPEAR's project design.
SPEAR's structured support includes two components: Communities of Learning (CoL) and Practice (CoP), which complement each other to create a complete cycle of learning, practice, and feedback. The CoL aims to equip partners with expertise, tools, and skills to adapt EIGE's GEAR tool steps to local requirements. Fourteen CoL workshops have covered various topics, such as gender equality in academia, GEP implementation, monitoring data for gender equality measures, gender dimension in research, and more. The CoL has resulted in the development of comprehensive virtual materials, including webinars, podcasts, videos, SPEAR's COMPASS guide, and blog posts, which are openly accessible through SPEAR's website and GENPORT, benefiting the wider community beyond the project.
SPEAR's CoP has provided a space for partners to reflect jointly on successes, obstacles, competencies, and resources necessary for successful GE implementation. The CoP further consisted of three learning and support clusters, each comprising three partners, who regularly exchanged inspirational support. Through two rounds of online 'site visits' in 2021 and 2022, stakeholders provided qualified feedback on the developed GEPs and became important advocates for GE measures. This exemplifies the dedication and creativity of SPEAR partners in advancing the GE agenda and creating lasting change.
Sustainability has been a core element throughout the project, with all partners actively engaged in embedding, mainstreaming, and sustaining GEPs and ongoing monitoring. Extensive network-building has taken place nationally and beyond, including collaboration with other research and higher education institutions, high-profile stakeholders, civil society actors, and student bodies. National conferences have successfully addressed the broader context of GEP implementation and engaged diverse stakeholders.
SPEAR's final conference, developed by the entire consortium, focused on the future of gender equality, inclusivity, and democratic values in European academia. With attendance of 135 on-site and 50 online participants, the conference featured presentations from 25 sister projects, and bridging the practitioner-scholar-politician spectrum in pursuit of promoting democratic values in European academia.
The formulation and dissemination of policy recommendations have been successfully accomplished, including institutional, national, and EU-level recommendations based on the collective knowledge and expertise of the consortium.
Dissemination and communication efforts, including the production and promotion of virtual learning materials, have been expertly carried out by. Partners have effectively engaged stakeholders within and beyond their institutions through blog posts, social media dissemination, and virtual resources. Collaborative campaigns with sister projects have further amplified the visibility of SPEAR's values and objectives. Three major campaigns have been particularly successful in the final year: The promotion of SPEAR’s COMPASS Guide, SPEAR’s Final Conference and SPEAR’s Cycle of Policy Reflections.
The project's evaluation has encompassed three cycles, providing critical feedback and recommendations to partnering institutions and fostering reflective capacity.
Eight PLSMs have been conducted throughout the project, with two held online during the pandemic and four as physical meetings in the final year. These meetings have been crucial for capacity building, community strengthening, and collaborative idea development. The democratic decision-making process within the PLSMs has enabled partners to challenge and expand the defined tasks beyond their original scope.
SPEAR's Advisory Group has provided valuable feedback on project tasks and output, participated in the final conference, and contributed significantly to the formulation and dissemination of EU-level policy recommendations.
In total, 34 deliverables have been submitted and all defined milestones have been met.
SPEAR's structured support includes two components: Communities of Learning (CoL) and Practice (CoP), which complement each other to create a complete cycle of learning, practice, and feedback. The CoL aims to equip partners with expertise, tools, and skills to adapt EIGE's GEAR tool steps to local requirements. Fourteen CoL workshops have covered various topics, such as gender equality in academia, GEP implementation, monitoring data for gender equality measures, gender dimension in research, and more. The CoL has resulted in the development of comprehensive virtual materials, including webinars, podcasts, videos, SPEAR's COMPASS guide, and blog posts, which are openly accessible through SPEAR's website and GENPORT, benefiting the wider community beyond the project.
SPEAR's CoP has provided a space for partners to reflect jointly on successes, obstacles, competencies, and resources necessary for successful GE implementation. The CoP further consisted of three learning and support clusters, each comprising three partners, who regularly exchanged inspirational support. Through two rounds of online 'site visits' in 2021 and 2022, stakeholders provided qualified feedback on the developed GEPs and became important advocates for GE measures. This exemplifies the dedication and creativity of SPEAR partners in advancing the GE agenda and creating lasting change.
Sustainability has been a core element throughout the project, with all partners actively engaged in embedding, mainstreaming, and sustaining GEPs and ongoing monitoring. Extensive network-building has taken place nationally and beyond, including collaboration with other research and higher education institutions, high-profile stakeholders, civil society actors, and student bodies. National conferences have successfully addressed the broader context of GEP implementation and engaged diverse stakeholders.
SPEAR's final conference, developed by the entire consortium, focused on the future of gender equality, inclusivity, and democratic values in European academia. With attendance of 135 on-site and 50 online participants, the conference featured presentations from 25 sister projects, and bridging the practitioner-scholar-politician spectrum in pursuit of promoting democratic values in European academia.
The formulation and dissemination of policy recommendations have been successfully accomplished, including institutional, national, and EU-level recommendations based on the collective knowledge and expertise of the consortium.
Dissemination and communication efforts, including the production and promotion of virtual learning materials, have been expertly carried out by. Partners have effectively engaged stakeholders within and beyond their institutions through blog posts, social media dissemination, and virtual resources. Collaborative campaigns with sister projects have further amplified the visibility of SPEAR's values and objectives. Three major campaigns have been particularly successful in the final year: The promotion of SPEAR’s COMPASS Guide, SPEAR’s Final Conference and SPEAR’s Cycle of Policy Reflections.
The project's evaluation has encompassed three cycles, providing critical feedback and recommendations to partnering institutions and fostering reflective capacity.
Eight PLSMs have been conducted throughout the project, with two held online during the pandemic and four as physical meetings in the final year. These meetings have been crucial for capacity building, community strengthening, and collaborative idea development. The democratic decision-making process within the PLSMs has enabled partners to challenge and expand the defined tasks beyond their original scope.
SPEAR's Advisory Group has provided valuable feedback on project tasks and output, participated in the final conference, and contributed significantly to the formulation and dissemination of EU-level policy recommendations.
In total, 34 deliverables have been submitted and all defined milestones have been met.
SPEAR’s project design with its interconnection between partners’ GE-practice, and the capacity building and coordinated support through SPEAR’s CoL and CoP has proven to be a strong catalyst for comprehensive organisational change. Individual team members have been supported and empowered, and proposed measures have been qualified and enriched through continuous collaboration and exchanges that took place in a safe and creative learning atmosphere.
SPEAR’s ongoing collaboration, and particularly the reflective processes, have helped partners not merely on their organisational journey, but also on deeper mental journeys, that allow challenges to be perceived in a new light and innovative solutions found on the basis of the wisdom and savoir faire of the entire consortium. In this, SPEAR’s integrated evaluation and critical friend approach have supported and enhanced the reflective capacity. This has been further supported through the engagement of SPEAR’s advisory group – and extended beyond the consortium to national and regional networks now supported by SPEAR partners.
SPEAR has established and continually nourish dynamic organisational and national networks in all partner contexts. This has in significant ways been enhanced by the heightened demand for GE and GEP expertise arising from the HEU GEP eligibility criterion. SPEAR’s partners have been visible as first movers.
SPEAR’s use of communication and dissemination as integral components that reach far into the objectives of all work packages has ensured that the project not only has ‘spread the word’ and connected with relevant parties but has used strategic communication and dissemination to effect deep social and organisational change in the partnering institutions and across Europe.
SPEAR’s ongoing collaboration, and particularly the reflective processes, have helped partners not merely on their organisational journey, but also on deeper mental journeys, that allow challenges to be perceived in a new light and innovative solutions found on the basis of the wisdom and savoir faire of the entire consortium. In this, SPEAR’s integrated evaluation and critical friend approach have supported and enhanced the reflective capacity. This has been further supported through the engagement of SPEAR’s advisory group – and extended beyond the consortium to national and regional networks now supported by SPEAR partners.
SPEAR has established and continually nourish dynamic organisational and national networks in all partner contexts. This has in significant ways been enhanced by the heightened demand for GE and GEP expertise arising from the HEU GEP eligibility criterion. SPEAR’s partners have been visible as first movers.
SPEAR’s use of communication and dissemination as integral components that reach far into the objectives of all work packages has ensured that the project not only has ‘spread the word’ and connected with relevant parties but has used strategic communication and dissemination to effect deep social and organisational change in the partnering institutions and across Europe.