By: Wendy Broersen, Programmamanager Diversity & Inclusion Masterclass UvA Academy
14 juli 2021
Recently the EU has decided educational organizations need to do more to promote women, transgender and non-binary people. By 2022 it is mandatory to have a Gender Equality Plan implemented in order to keep European funding.
The challenge for most universities and other higher education institutions is that they have not even started writing a D&I strategy, let alone published a plan with the signatures of the board or directors, which is one of the requirements. Most of these institutions aren’t capable of acting fast (enough).
It does not stop there; they would really like to see the following topics need to be addressed as well in both content ofin the GEP as well as in planned actions.
Specific funding will be dedicated to:
Although it is allowed to have a self-declaration in place at the first submission stage, there is a mandatory questionnaire. At the time of the Grant Agreement signature, you have to have your GEP in place. If not, you lose the funding.
These demands seem harsh, but if you ask me, these institutes need a hard push in the right direction. I have seen several monitors that indicate the equity issue will not be is is not solved until the year 2050+ and that is taking way too long.
But, more importantly, these institutions demonstrate a way of thinking and acting that should not be adapted by their students. They take what they’ve learned into the wide world and influence other organisations and institutions with what they’ve learned and experienced.
In this case is leading by example far more important than most people think.
If you need help starting with your GEP? Follow our free webinar on Friday July 16th at 15.00h by signing up here.
UvA Academy offers an extensive course which enables you to write your GEP, and help you implement Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in a sustainable manner. For more information about this programme, please visit this page.