Gender Equality Plans in European University: A Tool to Challenge Inequality Towards Diversity and Inclusion

Gender Equality is based on the right of all human beings to “equal rights, freedoms and opportunities”, a condition that today is still not achieved in the European Research Area and in the HED sector in general. Women are still under-represented in university governing bodies and at various levels of university decision-making. This lack of gender issues’ visibility has also occurred in curricula and educational content, with a potential impact on students and the younger generation’s social construction of gender. Although most Universities in Europe have already drafted a Gender Equality Plan - GEP, which constitutes an effective tool for initiating change and addresses various manifestations of gender inequality, it is crucial to move from a “tick the box” approach to the utilisation of the potential of such a dynamic document is must. This is the main aim of the European project Pro-Gendering, which, thanks to the collaboration of five European partner universities, intends to change organisational cultures by raising awareness and motivating the academic community, including students, to engage and take initiatives to promote gender equality. Using the qualitative (GEP comparative analysis and interviews) and quantitative (online survey) data collected in the project’s research activities, this contribution discusses potential implementation for those actions that these official documents specifically address to students. Strengthening the capacity of universities to build inclusive educational communities also through the provision of know-how for implementing GEPs and educating university students on GE are key objectives for developing an increasingly inclusive future society.