Gender Equality Plan Statement

Attachments

Gender Equality Plan Statement

The European Commission is committed to promoting gender equality in research and innovation. From 2022 onwards all public bodies, higher education institutions and research organisations from EU Member States and associated countries wishing to participate in Horizon Europe are required to have a Gender Equality Plan (GEP). To comply with the eligibility criterion, a GEP must meet 4 mandatory process-related requirements or ‘building blocks’. Mandatory requirements for a GEP 1. Be a public document: The GEP should be a formal document signed by the top management, and disseminated within the institution. It should demonstrate a commitment to gender equality, set clear goals and detailed actions and measures to achieve them 2. Have dedicated resources: Resources for the design, implementation, and monitoring of GEPs may include funding for specific positions such as Equality Officers or Gender Equality Teams as well as earmarked working time for academic, management and administrative staff 3. Include arrangements for data collection and monitoring: GEPs must be evidence-based and founded on sex or gender-disaggregated baseline data collected across all staff categories. This data should inform the GEP’s objectives and targets, indicators, and ongoing evaluation of progress 4. Be supported by training and capacity-building: Actions may include developing gender competence and tackling unconscious gender bias among staff, leaders and decision-makers, establishing working groups dedicated to specific topics, and raising awareness through workshops and communication activities In addition to these mandatory process-related requirements, the following 5 thematic areas are recommended for content. 1. work-life balance and organisational culture 2. gender balance in leadership and decision-making 3. gender equality in recruitment and career progression 4. integration of the gender dimension into research and teaching content 5. measures against gender-based violence including sexual harassment Edge Hill University’s Gender Equality Plan Statement identifies our equivalent documents that meet the mandatory requirements and which form the GEP for the purposes of eligibility for Horizon Europe.