The conference was attended by Dr Aleksandra Różalska – the University of Lodz Rector’s Representative for Equal Treatment and Manager of the RESET project at the University of Lodz together with her team (Dr Mateusz Hauk, Dr Marta Kucharska-Hauk, Dr Agata Rudnicka, Dr Janusz Reichel, mgr Marta Malinowska and Dr Paulina Szymańska). Dr Izabela Desperak, a member of the Gender Equality Board, also attended the conference.
The introductory lecture to the conference "Gender equality in the neoliberal University" was given by Lígia Amâncio (ISCTE - IUL). The conference programme included lectures, panel discussions (one of which entitled "EUA and mainstreaming GE and diversity: practices, challenges and reflections" UNIC participant and moderator was Dr Aleksandra Różalska), a screening of the Spanish film "Why so few?" about the difficulties faced by female scientists choosing research careers in exact sciences and experimental science, and poster sessions. The University of Lodz presented as many as five posters on topics such as herstorical tours in Lodz, GEP at the University of Lodz, conducting train-the-trainers, knowledge of discrimination processes among students and parenting of students.
The conference concluded with the reading of the Feminist Poetic Manifesto, which spoke movingly about intergenerational relationships between women, motherhood and difficult family situations.
The University of Lodz operates in a socially responsible manner, actively engaging in initiatives to support equal opportunities, and cares for the needs of the diverse groups that make up the broader academic community through initiatives such as University Diversity and equality training sessions designed as part of the RESET project. Ensuring equal working conditions in an atmosphere of mutual respect and human dignity is at the heart of modern institutions.
The University of Lodz established the Gender Equality Board in 2021 to consult on equality documents and recommend the most optimal actions in this field. The establishment of the Board is the result of the university's participation in the RESET: Redesigning Equality and Scientific Excellence Together project, as part of which quantitative and qualitative research was carried out on equality and diversity at the university, with the aim of identifying in detail the situation and needs of the various groups belonging to our academic community. This diagnosis constituted the basis of the first Gender Equality Plan at the University of Lodz, which was officially adopted in June 2022. The aims and objectives set out in this document have been progressively implemented at the University of Lodz over the period of two years, and the new version of the Plan (for 2025-2027) assumes their continuation, further monitoring of equality and diversity at the university, the introduction of equalisation mechanisms, anti-discrimination practices and training initiatives
Thanks to the international nature of the RESET project, we have had the opportunity to compare our experiences and exchange observations with people representing different European universities, different scientific disciplines and different academic organisational cultures. This perspective allows for a fuller understanding of the nature of equal treatment in research, teaching and organisational activities, creating opportunities to better plan and monitor these processes. Above all, we are keen to ensure that the activities, practices and policies developed at RESET remain at the university after the project has ended and continue to be developed and improved
– says Dr Aleksandra Różalska, coordinator of the RESET project at the University of Lodz and Head of the Women’s Studies Centre (Faculty of Philology, University of Lodz).
The "Faces of Campus" campaign is an example of an initiative involving the University of Lodz community and the "Behind the Scenes" photo exhibition organised as part of it. They aimed to draw attention to the important role of people (primarily women) supporting research and thus achieving scientific excellence at universities, who are very often less visible in research activities. These people are, for example, librarians, project administrators, accountants, communication workers, etc.
Another outcome of the RESET project at the University of Lodz is equality and anti-discrimination training courses, based on a holistic approach to learning, education and organisational processes in such important areas for the development of the university as diversity management, work-life balance, inclusive communication or gender equality in research and education.
As part of the project, we were able to develop a comprehensive training programme consisting of 15 modules and addressing the needs of the entire academic community: research and administrative staff, students and postgraduates, as well as management staff. To date, we have managed to train nearly 2,000 people, and the offer and formula of workshops we have proposed has been very well received by the academic community of the University of Lodz
– says Dr Mateusz Hauk, GEP training instructor (Institute of Psychology, University of Lodz).
The preparation of the training was preceded by quantitative and qualitative research on equality and diversity at the university.
Thanks to the diagnosis carried out in 2021 as part of the RESET project, we learnt about the training needs of the different groups at the university and adapted the workshop offer to them. Not only does it provide knowledge on equality and diversity topics, but also aims to acquire specific skills, such as responding to inappropriate behaviour or cases of discrimination
– says Dr Agata Rudnicka, co-author of the Gender Equality Plan and GEP training instructor (Faculty of Management, University of Lodz)
The Gender Equality Board has also drafted a position paper on transgender students addressed to academic staff and student and doctoral administration. Its team has participated in the preparation of the Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Bullying Procedure at the University of Lodz, which was introduced in March 2023. A new version of anti-discrimination mechanisms is currently being developed to make them more effective, preventive and educational, thus responding to the needs of the academic community.
Seven European universities are participating in this initiative – the initiative funded under the prestigious European Union Horizon 2020 programme: University of Bordeaux (France) – the project coordinator, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), University of Lodz (Poland), University of Porto (Portugal), Ruhr University of Bochum (Germany), University of Oulu (Finland) and the Institute of Political Science in Paris (France).
Source: Dr Aleksandra Różalska
Edit: Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz
Photos: private source