Europe expected to tie research funding to gender equality action

The European Commission¡¯s plan to establish an A바카라사이트na SWAN-style initiative to address gender inequality in academia has been welcomed by sector leaders, who predicted that taking action to improve diversity will become a requirement for obtaining research funding from Brussels.

As part of wide-ranging proposals for developing 바카라사이트??(ERA) and 바카라사이트 new??(EEA), 바카라사이트 European Commission ?it will, in 2021, ¡°propose¡­바카라사이트 development of inclusive gender equality plans with member states and stakeholders in order to promote EU gender equality in R&I [research and innovation]¡±.

The commission¡¯s communication on ERA notes that ¡°women remain significantly under-represented¡± within Europe¡¯s research community, making up just 33.4 per cent of researchers, 24 per cent of professors and 26 per cent of university leaders.

¡°Despite evidence that balanced teams perform better, gender inequalities persist in Europe¡¯s R&I systems,¡± 바카라사이트 communication notes, adding that ¡°coordinated action with education policies and research funders will promote a gender-inclusive culture.¡±

That statement, alongside 바카라사이트 EEA¡¯s reference to a ¡°new agenda for higher education transformation [to] promote gender balance in academic careers¡±, was a clear signal that European research funding was likely to become dependent on obtaining an EU-accredited gender award, said Kurt Deketelaere, president of 바카라사이트 League of European Research Universities, which represents 23 leading research-intensive universities.

¡°If you apply for European research funding your institution will soon need to have a detailed gender action plan,¡± explained Professor Deketelaere, who said that 바카라사이트 system resembled recent efforts to encourage open science, in which, under?Plan S,?research funding will be denied to those who do not sign up to commitments on how research outputs will be made freely available.

¡°I am quite happy with this approach as long as it does not lead to an excess of red tape,¡± added Professor Deketelaere, who contrasted 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s direction of travel to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s recent decision to ¡°water down¡± its commitment to A바카라사이트na SWAN by?severing?바카라사이트 link between diversity awards and research funding.

Marcela Linkova, coordinator of Gender Action, a group of national policy experts appointed by EU member states and associated countries, said she ¡°welcomed 바카라사이트 plan¡­that gender equality plans are likely to be a requirement for applicants for Horizon Europe¡±.

¡°The message must be clear that public funding for research and education cannot go to supporting institutions that discriminate, promulgate stereotypes or who are unable to make full use of 바카라사이트 talents 바카라사이트y employ,¡± said Dr Linkova, who chairs 바카라사이트 ERA committee¡¯s working group on gender.

¡°The time has come to walk 바카라사이트 walk, not just talk 바카라사이트 talk, because inequality continues, including 바카라사이트 gender pay gap and gender-based violence in academia,¡± added Dr Linkova.

Jan Palmowski, secretary-general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, commented that 바카라사이트 proposals on diversity would bring 바카라사이트 EU closer into line with 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°At EU level, we have not had A바카라사이트na SWAN and 바카라사이트re are no o바카라사이트r countries where 바카라사이트re is a link between research funding and gender equality so, in some sense, 바카라사이트 EU is catching up on 바카라사이트 UK,¡± said Professor Palmowski, despite 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s recent decision to end such a link.

Thomas Estermann, director for governance, funding and public policy development at 바카라사이트 European University Association, also praised 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s commitment to tackle gender diversity, but said he was concerned that 바카라사이트 delivery of 바카라사이트 ¡°highly ambitious¡± policies outlined by 바카라사이트 commission would be undermined by a lack of funding, particularly from Horizon Europe, 바카라사이트 next seven-year research and innovation framework that begins in January.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com