GENDER EQUALITY AND THE UNIVERSITY’S STRATEGIC TOOLS
The University of Brescia integrates gender equality policies into its strategic and planning frameworks. This coordinated system links data, actions and objectives to promote equity and inclusion across all aspects of the University.
An integrated approach to gender equality
In accordance with the guidelines issued by the Conference of Rectors of Italian Universities (CRUI), the University of Brescia is consolidating its methodological framework for data collection and the systematisation of tools designed to achieve gender equality and to integrate equal opportunities policies into all the University’s policy documents.
This methodology enables the Gender Report (BdG) and the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) to be implemented alongside the Three-Year Positive Action Plan (PTAP), with a view to incorporating a gender perspective into the University’s Strategic Plan.
An internal collaboration network
This commitment involves creating a system of intra-institutional networking and collaboration that brings together all the relevant bodies (Gender Commission, Joint Guarantee Committee, Rector’s Delegates, academic and administrative staff) with the shared and common aim of putting the principles of equity and inclusion into practice.
From analysis to action
With this in mind, and to ensure consistency and continuity between documents, a functional simplification is required.
The Gender Report contributes to the analysis of the current situation and outlines the University’s position regarding gender representation at different organisational levels, serving both as a starting point for defining measures aimed at achieving equality and as a means of assessing the results already achieved.
The Gender Equality Plan, on the other hand, must contain concrete and innovative corrective actions, identifying objectives and outcome indicators, with a view to rectifying any gender-based distortions and inequalities and promoting general organisational change, thereby becoming one of the University’s key development priorities. As also indicated in the Handbook for the Development of the Gender Equality Plan in Italian Universities, the actions set out in the GEP “are linked to the Gender Report both at the planning stage and at the reporting stage” (CRUI, 2021).
A commitment at European level too
The adoption of the Gender Equality Plan is an eligibility requirement set by the European Commission for organisations applying to the Horizon Europe calls; this is the framework programme for research and innovation for the period 2021–2027, which has introduced new provisions to strengthen gender equality within European organisations at a systemic level.