Equality and Status of Women in Research: A GRC Dialogue

Programme

Background

In 2016 GRC participants endorsed the Statement of Principles and Actions Promoting the Equality and Status of Women in Research1. Anchoring the ten actions are two considerations: the participation and promotion of women in the research workforce; and the integration of gender in research design and analysis of research outcomes. This session will facilitate an exchange of perspectives by heads of research councils on the global implementation of the GRC statement of principles and action plan. The session will also advance action 2: collect and make available data (against consistent parameters) for comparative analysis.

Purpose and Intended Outcomes

• Advance conceptualisation, strategy and next steps in implementing the GRC Statement of Principles and Actions: Promoting the Equality and Status of Women in Research
• Validation, support and advancement of the activities of the GRC Gender Working Group
• Profile and momentum for equality and status of women in research as a GRC theme and priority, and the gender working group as an instrument of the GRC.

Framing the Sessions

Promoting the Equality and Status of Women in Research: GRC’s Catalytic Role: High level strategic dialogue with heads of research councils. This moderated session seeks to obtain strategic input and sharing of best practices in accordance with the ten actions endorsed by the GRC in 2016. The session will be guided by the following questions:

• What has been your SGC experience in domesticating the 2016 statement of principles and actions on gender? HORCs can choose to discuss this from different perspectives including 1 or more of the following:
  • Dedicated/ strategic programmes they have conceptualised/ adopted to encourage gender equality in their SGC
  • Policy changes that have been implemented
  • Specific interventions within the funding pipeline that have been introduced e.g. Unconscious bias training of evaluation panels
  • Any other aspects aligned to the specific actions endorsed in 2016
• The GRC gender working group is an instrument of the GRC whose main purpose is to add value to the collective implementation of the 2016 statement of principles and action plan. What specific aspects should the working group be focusing on, to contribute to benchmarking, peer learning, and comparisons across the GRC participating organisations?
• Additional question: One of the key considerations outlined in the statement of principles and action plan is the integration of the gender dimension in research design and in the analysis of research outcomes. GRC participating organisations have a critical role to play in enabling uptake of this notion within their funding landscapes. In your experience, which strategic and/or practical ways can public funding agencies begin to catalyse behavioural change in this regard?

The questions will also be asked to other HORCs who are invited to the dialogue.

Gender Disaggregated Data in Focus: The availability of disaggregated data on participation in research by different groups (for example by gender, by age, by discipline) facilitates benchmarking and a better understanding of the needs of different research systems. The working group has prioritised data as a first focus because it underpins strategic direction and change. This session will strengthen an appreciation of experiences in the collection and reporting of gender disaggregated data by research councils. Dialogue participants are requested to prepare input for this session in response to the following questions:

• What are your SGC’s current efforts and challenges in collecting and reporting gender disaggregated data?
• How can the working group best facilitate benchmarking, comparisons and peer learning regarding gender disaggregated data across the GRC? i.e. what would add value, from a GRC collective perspective, to support SGC efforts in collecting and reporting gender disaggregated data?