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STAGES – Structural Transformation to Achieve Gender Equality in Science

The STAGES project targeted structural change and gender-aware management at all organisational levels. To achieve this, the consortium implemented self-tailored Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) in different research institutes and universities across Europe.

Project work leveraged advances and opportunities promoted in the European Commission’s structural change strategy, which was launched in 2011 and marked a turning point in addressing the problem of gender inequality in science. Frameworks for the GEPs focused on further developing the concept of institutional gender equality and promoting change in organisational culture and formal and informal behaviours. Actions included communicating with relevant actors for sharing knowledge and experience and providing technical and other assistance for implementing and evaluating the action plans.

The project established courses on gender for leaders, gender quotas for boards and a Women Researchers Day. All participating organisations adopted a sustainability plan that ensures the actions initiated during STAGES will continue. Partners worked to produce a deeper understanding of the dynamics surrounding structural change efforts through analysis, monitoring and assessments of the processes activated in each organisation. These efforts resulted in a set of guidelines supporting structural transformations in research institutions.

The project’s main outcomes are available on the STAGES website.

Partnership: The project was coordinated by the Department for Equal Opportunities of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (Italy) and involved a further six partners: ASDO – Assembly of Women for Development and the Struggle against Social Exclusion (Italy); Research Centre Genders, University of Milan (Italy); Fraunhofer – Institute for Industrial Engineering (IAO) (Germany); Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy, Aarhus University (Denmark); Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza Din Iasi (Romania); and Stichting Radboud Universiteit (the Netherlands).

Funding: STAGES was funded in 2012-2015 from the FP7-SIS – Specific Programme ‘Capacities’: Science in society.

Research Team

  • Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences:
    • Marisa Porrini
    • Claudia Sorlini (Scientific Coordinator 2012-2013)

  • Department of Social and Political Sciences:
    • Bianca Beccalli
    • Antonio Chiesi
    • Camilla Gaiaschi
    • Elena Del Giorgio
    • Daniela Falcinelli (Coordinator)
    • Luisa Leonini (Scientific Coordinator 2014-2015)
  • University of Milan – HR Division:
    • Daniela Falcinelli
  • Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health:
    • Maria Domenica Cappellini