The establishment of an inclusive organisational culture at AMU to support equality and diversity was envisaged, among other things, by the Gender Equality Plan approved two years ago at Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań. The first stage of the plan's implementation is now drawing to a close.
Six key objectives have been set for the plan. Apart from the one initially mentioned, they include promoting the development of scientific careers and ensuring gender balance in competition procedures, striving to create balanced gender representation in the university's decision-making bodies, assessment and evaluation teams and experts within university committees, creating work environments facilitating the combination of work and family life, integrating the gender dimension into research and teaching content, and acting against gender-based violence.
The first phase successfully provided the first equality training courses, and language references were prepared. Equality language has also been introduced into the new e-syllabus system. Equality topics have also emerged in classes. Action has also been undertaken, leading to the establishment of a team of consultants on gender discrimination. A dedicated website, https://bezdyskryminacji.amu.edu.pl/en, providing information and recommendations related to the implementation of the Gender Equality Plan, has been launched. Through this website, individuals working at AMU can express their needs and suggestions relating to career development or combining work with childcare for other dependants.
As a reminder, the Gender Equality Plan for 2022-2025 was introduced by an ordinance of the Rector of Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, on 15 July 2022. It was driven not only by the need for consistency with national, European and international laws on non-discrimination and equality but also by the need to meet the requirements of European programmes in which AMU participates or concerning which it would like to apply. In particular, for all Horizon Europe competitions from 2022 onwards, the adoption of a Gender Equality Plan is mandatory and a criterion for project eligibility.
What's next? Further steps involve intensifying activities related to the wider promotion of the PRP at AMU to ensure a better flow of information between the units involved in the implementation of the plan. The planned activities will continue as part of the objectives. For the new PRP Coordinator at AMU, Prof. Elżbieta Lesiewicz, it is essential to raise awareness of the challenges of gender equality through training, conferences, lectures, courses, the issue of the presence of women in management positions, the promotion of inclusive language and a balanced academic and family life.
Photo credit: A. Wykrota