Academics 2018: Equality in Research

This document is an outcome of the research project “Analysis of Barriers to and Support Strategy for Gender Equality in Science and Research” implemented in 2017 and 2018 by the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences as part of the Operational Programme Employment.

The objective of the project was to develop recommendations for action to advance gender equality in research and development for the state administration and other key national players in research policy-making (the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Research, Development and Innovation Council, the Czech Science Foundation, the Technology Agency of the CR). Additional measures have been developed for higher education and research institutions and their umbrella organisations (Czech Rectors’ Conference, the Czech Academy of Sciences).

Moreover, the document aims to serve government bodies responsible for gender equality agendas (the Gender Equality Department of the Government of the CR). The measures have been proposed on the assumption that for their successful implementation it is necessary to ensure synergy between the state administration and research and higher education institutions.

Due emphasis is also placed on the role and responsibility of senior researchers. The document is unique in that it builds on an in-depth analysis of the working conditions and barriers to career progression in research and development. It is the first study of the working conditions in research in the CR of such a comprehensive nature. The summary of the main findings is presented in the annexes to this document.

The analysis rests on the following four pillars:

a representative questionnaire survey focused on gender aspects of the development of research and academic careers;
an ethnographic study aimed at a thorough analysis of the more subtle aspects of the academic culture and scientific practice at four institutions (public higher education institutions, an institute of the Academy of Sciences, a public research organisation) across different research fields;
a study of foreign practices at the level of government bodies, key R&D stakeholders and institutions, and an analysis of the transferability of adopted actions into the Czech environment;
interviews with decision-makers in the area of R&D concerning their views and attitudes towards the advancement of gender equality in R&D and the relevant support tools.

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The research study and the publication were implemented as part of the Analysis of Barriers to and Support Strategy for Gender Equality in Science and Research project, Project Registration Number CZ.03.1.51/0.0/0.0/15_028/0003571.The project is funded by the European Union from the European Social Fund, the Operational Programme Employment.