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Online discussion „SPEAR: Gender Equality Plans and their implementation in VU“

Submitted by: Aurelija Novelskaitė, Daiva Skučienė, Rūta Ruolytė-Verschoore, Urtė Lina Orlova, Vilius Alesius, Vilnius University

- ongoing

Online discussion „SPEAR: Gender Equality Plans and their implementation in VU“

The VU SPEAR team organized an online discussion about the implementation of the GEPs in several VU faculties aiming to spread information about the development of GEPs, their function and approaches towards gender equality-focused activities. The discussion was recorded and presented to the community with a summary in VU news #AtvirasVU (openVU).

It is planned to organize a series of periodic discussions with top managers and coordinators of GEP implementation in VU for sharing experiences and ideas and for motivating other departments, educating the community. 
 

COMPASS PERSPECTIVE – in what way(s) was the measure C O M P A S S?

C - as this kind of discussion was invoked for spreading the message about the positive sides of having a GEP, specifically created for certain departments. In the future, creativity will be essential for suggesting relevant and attractive topics for discussions. Also creativity is essential for suggesting/discussing ideas during the discussion. In addition, creativity will be needed for attracting community’s attention to the events.

O - as any member of the community could follow the discussion and propose questions to the discussants as well as for the wider community.

M - since much as the discussion contributed to dissemination of (positive) approaches towards gender equality, its significance as general communal values and importance as practical principles in all academic activities.

S - as the discussion was focused on a very specific topic – implementation and promotion of GEP’s as a means for solving gender equality related issues; it was fixed in time, information about the discussion was shared with all members of VU community via newsletters, and currently the materials are available for reviewing any time for any member of the community.

S - sustainability could be ensured by implementing a plan – a series of open discussions and spreading of information about them to all members of the community.

ACTORS AND STAKEHOLDERS

  • SPEAR-VU team members
  • Top managers from 3 academic departments: dean, vice-director, vice-dean.

AUTHOR’S REFLECTIONS

What would you do the same/differently another time?
What have you learnt? Do you see relevance for this in other contexts?

This kind of meeting when the message about gender equality issues comes not from equal opportunities coordinators whose main duty is to work with such topics, but from the top management persons from different faculties have a much bigger impact and weight. Especially, if these persons do see the value of working with gender equality issues and have their strong opinions about this topic.