SUPPORTER Final conference:

Advancing Gender+ Equality
in Widening Higher Education Institutions

Day 2: Advancing Gender Equality Plans in Widening higher education institutions: Challenges, Insights, and Strategies

đź“… 5 June 2025

đź“Ś Prague, Charles University

The implementation of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) across the European Research Area remains uneven, particularly in Widening Countries, where structural barriers pose significant challenges, in addition to specific contexts. This full-day event brings together key stakeholders to explore effective strategies for developing and sustaining GEPs in diverse research and innovation ecosystems, with a particular focus on higher education and research institutions in widening countries. 

The event will showcase inspiring practices from various contexts, including the sports ecosystem examined within the SUPPORTER project, agricultural higher education institutions, and other research settings in sister projects. By examining these cases, participants will understand the challenges and opportunities associated with GEP implementation. 

Beyond case studies, the event will foster discussions on practical approaches for embedding gender equality in institutional frameworks. Key topics will include fostering long-term partnerships, the crucial role of change agents, and the potential of communities of practice in driving sustainable change. The insights and recommendations emerging from this event will support stakeholders in building more inclusive and gender-responsive research and education environments. 

Why come to this event?  

  • Explore how gender equality plans (GEPs) can be adapted to meet the specific needs of different fields and institutions, drawing from experiences in similar projects. 
  • Learn practical recommendations and tools for creating inclusive GEPs that promote gender equality in academia and sports. 
  • Understand the critical role of change agents in driving gender equality initiatives. 
  • Discover strategies for ensuring the long-term sustainability and inclusivity of gender equality plans, including addressing intersectionality. 

Preliminary programme

The full-day event will open with a welcome addresses and a presentation of SUPPORTER followed by three focused panels.  The first will explore how Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) can be adapted to specific institutional contexts, addressing challenges in sports and agricultural studies. The second panel will examine the roles of leaders and grassroots actors in driving change, while the third will discuss strategies for ensuring the long-term sustainability of GEPs.

A poster exhibition will present outputs from sister projects and institutional roadmaps.

The programme is available in early March– stay tuned!