Gender in research as a mark of excellence

The 7th Framework Programme (FP7) strives to promote gender equality in scientific research, by facilitating the participation of women scientists and integrating the gender dimension into research content in all research areas.  The toolkit and training packages give the research community practical tools to integrate gender aspects into FP7 research, including equal opportunties for women and men and the gender dimension of research, thereby contributing to excellence in research.  The training introduces the practical toolkit.  It comprises an overall introduction into gender and research and shows how gender is interwoven with all aspects of research.  It then examines in pragmatic terms how the gender dimension of research content contributes to excellence in research.  It also analyses case studies based on concrete examples drawn from nine specific research fields.

Training objectives

The objectives of the training are consistent with the double approach in the FP7 towards gender equality in research:

• Concerning the importance of a more equal partipation of men and women in research:
• Provide participants with a general overview of the unequal position of men and women in research in Europe;
• Sensitise participants on the importance of a more equal participation of men and women in research and the importance of creating a gender balanced research team;
• Indicate ways of stimulating a more equal participation of mean and women in research.
• Concerning the integration of gender or sex aspects into the research topics:
• Help participants to understand the concepts of gender and gender mainstreaming and their relevance for research;
• Sensitise participants on the importance of including the gender dimension into research projects and designing more gender sensitive projects;
• Provide the participants with practical strategies to assist project applicants and teams in implementing a gender approach to their research proposals.

Method

The method combines cognitive (knowledge-based) and inductive (experience-based) elements.  The programme is constructed as much as possible as an interactive workshop, where all participants have the opportunity to contribute to the session.

Agenda

The morning session covers issues relation to all research activities - i.e. Introduction and How to make research gender-sensitive, and then the afternoon focuses, in two separate parallel modules, on case studies from the Health and Environment fields in FP7.