The Project
CHANGE —
CHAlleNging Gender (In)Equality in science and research
The main aim of CHANGE — which is coordinated by IFZ — is it to support research performing organisations (RPOs) to design and implement gender equality plans. This will be achieved by involving key actors, called Transfer Agents (TAs), within each organisation who will together with the core consortium partners transmit co-produced gender equality knowledge inside their institutions.
This innovative approach will ensure the promotion and sustainable institutionalisation of the gender equality action plans (GEPs) beyond the project duration. Furthermore, through mutual learning and networking CHANGE will enable partners to become resource centres skilled to provide gender equality knowledge and expertise to other RPOs and also RFOs (research funding organisations).
With such a co-production of knowledge approach and by building communities of practice among RPOs in each participating region, support and mentorship structures will be established and work even after the project is finished. Regular inclusion and exchange with national and European stakeholders (policy makers, researchers, ministries etc.) ensures a spill-over effect of CHANGE results to other RPOs and RFOs in their respective countries as well as with other ministries in the whole European area.
As one of many results, CHANGE will produce policy papers based on this strategic stakeholder involvement including actual policy makers and relevant stakeholders in the policy paper production. With this approach we aim at closing the research-to-action gap, respectively the theory-to-practice gap.
Thus CHANGE contributes to a structural change towards gender equality in the European Research Area by stimulating institutional cultural change towards gender equal work environments in RPOs and fostering the importance of gender dimension inclusive research and innovation programmes in RFOs.
Our paper, explaining the CHANGE-approach in detail, can be found here.
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research & Innovation
Programme under Grant Agreement no. 787177. Our website reflects only the authors' views and the
European Union is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.