What is EQUALITY? What does EQUALITY do ?A co-operation project between 22 Higher Education Institutions of the European Union (EU) and Latin America, which aims to contribute to the economic and social development of the region.

Improving Higher Education in Latin America through gender equality enhancement in the following actions:· Regional network· Good practices for creating strategies, plans and training · Support structures and strategies

· Build capacities and skills of HEI sta� on gender policies· Leadership positions and high quality employment for women· Activities of leadership and mentoring

We present the methodology used to improve the quality, relevance and accessibility of universities in Latin America (LA) by integrating the gender perspective in management. Speci�cally, hereby is developed the methodology used in EQUALITY project to improve structures and gender policies as well as their impact. Through training for trainers, EQUALITY has set out a system of indicators to highlight the situation of women in 18 LA universities, which has been the basis to draft and implement a Gender Plan and create Gender Units. The three interventions have led LA Higher Education Institutions (HEI) into structural changes, to be reinforced by EQUALITY Network.

How to Manage Gender Equality in HEIs a

A Case Study of 18 Universities of Latin America

AUTHORSInma Pastor, Núria Serret, Paloma Pontón (Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain)Ana Rosa Ruiz (Technological of Costa Rica)

EQUALITY (Strengthening

Women Leadership in LA HEIs and Society)

Support measures & structures within HEIS

Methodology & Implementation

Impact

Conclusions

WORKSHOP 1 Gender policies and EU reports on women and science.WORKSHOP 2 Gender indicators in HEI to design and assess Gender Plans in HEIWORKSHOP 3 Deliver and approve Gender Plans: main lines of action and best practices. Output: Diagnostic Report and EQUALITY Gender Plan

1. Searching for alliances2. Preparing the diagnosis3. Raising awareness among key institutional actors4. Writing the Gender Plan5. Functioning of the Drafting Committee6. The Gender Plan content7.Gender Plan monitoring and assessment

Funded by the ALFA III Programme of the European Union www.equality-network.net

Obj

ectiv

es

· Financing constraints· Under-sta�ed· Lack of speci�c training on gender issues· Inadequately institu-tional recognition

WEAKNESSES· Academic output· Organisational university structure· Skilled sta�· University regulations

STRENGHTS

· Budget reductions· Patriarchal culture, mainly in LA· Lack of legislation on the universities

THREATS· Support of university authorities· Project management· Trained and moti-vated sta�· Wide range of areas to be covered

OPPORTUNITIES

GENDER UNITDIAGNOSIS

GENDER PLANMeasures to increase

share of women in high level positions, access

and promotion of sta�, gender in recruitment policies, reducing the gender gap in remu-

neration.

Providing expert advise on gender equality, measuring gender

equality in education and employment,

awareness rising, imple-menting strategies.

Obtain and monitor gender sensitive data,

development of a benchmark system,

awareness of gender biases in HEIs through a

Gender-Responsive Information System.

SWO

T

· Search for external funding· Convene a Drafting Commission with representatives of all university levels· Develop a reasonable working plan· Exploit EQUALITY activities: internal workshops and mainstreaming gender into academic o�er to raise awareness among professors and students· Negotiate with HEI boards and include key actors of the university as alliances

· Indicators are a key-factor to assess impact of Gender Plans.· Not only laws and knowledge have a role in the acquirement of equality in HEI but also the elimination of discriminatory attitudes, rules and deep-rooted cultural and social patterns.· Main factors a�ecting the development of equality policies in universities: existence of research groups on gender, size, institutional age, organisational dynamics and management.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Without information

Number of HEI 2014 Number of HEI 2012

Not yet begun

Before drafting

DraftWritten

pendant approvalApproved/

Implemented

· Lack of �nancial resources and sta� 44%· Lack of institutional support and political interest 44%· Others (authorities agenda, high percentage of men on HEIs boards, delays, di�culties to identify services) 27,8%· Little interest of university community in the topic 22,2%· Di�culties to �t the Gender Plan in the university rules 11%

2

1

0

0

0

0

5

3

1

3

9

1