Gender Equality in Academia and Research – GEAR – 101129408

Capacity building in the field of higher education (ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE)

Trajanje projekta: 2023-2026.

Partners

General objective

GEAR is developed to support addressing the pressing regional society’s issues stemming from gender inequality in education, science and work and in line with recent developments corresponding to the fourth industrial revolution and regional economic development. Additionally, the project provides venues for inclusive action of the HE underrepresented women, i.e. Roma, especially in the aftermath of COVID19 educational equality and accessibility crises. Hence, the action addresses both quality and relevance of the HE in beneficiary communities and countries.

The action contributes to the overarching priority of the European Commission for the Western Balkans: Sustainable growth and jobs: Quality education is a key factor for securing growth and jobs and for addressing challenges linked to unemployment and skills mismatches. Investing in human capital and entrepreneurship helps societies to prepare for the future, by putting a halt to brain drain and supporting the transition to a knowledge-based economy.

A key objective is to tackle the existing mismatch between education outcomes and labour market demands, including through the development of workbased learning. Inclusive participation of all citizens, including Roma, in education and training systems will ensure that no one is left behind.

Specific objectives

Given all the raised issues, GEAR promises to deliver the following 4 specific objectives:

• SO1: to develop and implement gender equality plans at 4 WB HEIs
• SO2: to support gender balance in WB HEI with strengthening women’s and girls’ participation in STE(A)M studies and careers
• SO3: to foster support (networks) for women with fewer opportunities in HE
• SO4: to support the implementation of national and local gender aspects in strategic developmental frameworks (mainstreaming)

Kick –off meeting held in Montenegro

On Monday and Tuesday, February 26^th and 27^th 2024, at the Faculty of Management Herceg Novi (University Adriatic Bar), Montenegro, kick-off meeting for Erasmus+ project GEAR: Gender Equality in Academia and Research was held.

Both days of the meeting were working days, with the analysis of the current conditions regarding gender equality, with particular attention paid to science and research, planning of following activities – meetings and workshops, and organization of work packages and project itself.

The main objective of the Erasmus+ project GEAR is to support addressing the pressing regional society’s issues stemming from gender inequality in education, science and work and in line with recent developments corresponding to the fourth industrial revolution and regional economic development. Additionally, the project provides venues for inclusive action of the HE underrepresented women, i.e. Roma, especially in the aftermath of COVID19 educational equality and accessibility crises. Hence, the action addresses both quality and relevance of the HE in beneficiary communities and countries.

The action contributes to the overarching priority of the European Commission for the Western Balkans: Sustainable growth and jobs: Quality education is a key factor for securing growth and jobs and for addressing challenges linked to unemployment and skills mismatches. Investing in human capital and entrepreneurship helps societies to prepare for the future, by putting a halt to brain drain and supporting the transition to a knowledge-based economy.

Partners in the project, apart from the Faculty of Management Herceg Novi, as a coordinator, are University Vilniaus, Lithuania, University in Maribor, Slovenia, University of Montenegro, NUBL, B&H, University in Tuzla, B&H, University Singidunum, Serbia, as well as organizations GirlThing Tuzla, B&H, Socio-Economic Center of Montenegro, and Western Balkan Institute from Belgrade.

The project will last for three years, and it is expected to be completed by November 30^th 2026.