Gender Equality Plan – a mandatory element of Horizon Europe

Masaryk University has approved Masaryk University Gender Equality Plan (GEP). The GEP is an eligibility criterion for all public authorities, higher education institutions and research organisations in EU and associated countries wishing to participate in Horizon Europe for calls with deadlines in 2022 and beyond. The inclusion of a gender dimension in the content of research and innovation is a standard requirement and an award criterion assessed under the excellence criterion. The Gender Equality Plan can be found on the MU website – Official Notice Board section and Careers section.

The basis for the preparation of this document was also the outputs and recommendations from the faculty gender audits. At the Faculty of Economics and Administration, the audit was conducted in May and June 2021 as part of the HR Award Action Plan, in which the faculty committed, among other things, to promoting a gender-fair environment. The audit covered the following areas: transforming organisational culture; reconciling work and parenthood; recruitment and selection; tenure; gender balance in leadership positions; measures against sexual harassment and other forms of violence; incorporating a gender dimension in research, innovation and teaching; and learning and student population. The findings presented in the final gender audit report were supported by content analysis of documents, analysis of statistical data, results from the 2020 HR Award survey, focus groups and individual and group interviews. The audit was conducted internally in collaboration with the NKC Gender and Science.