2020 – 2024 | HORIZON 2020
About the project
TARGETED-MPI aims to address gender inequality in Business and Management (B&M) schools through the development and effective implementation of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs). The complex and multidisciplinary nature of B&M schools constitutes an important research site to examine gender equality. The TARGETED-MPI consortium includes research organisations operating in diverse academic cultures and socio-economic settings in Europe (Greece, Sweden, Belgium, UK) and Lebanon, which allows the development of rich GEPs and the understanding of the conditions of applicability and transferability of GEPs across Europe and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. We will use an action-based research and transparent end-to-end stakeholder engagement strategy that is critical for the development and implementation of GEPs. The innovative cultural web tool will be used to identify overt and covert gender bias and barriers in partner organisations. A two-phase planning-implementation-monitoring-and-evaluation approach will be used to support the early deployment and assessment of GEPs and the provision of timely feedback for improving the initial GEPs. An independent expert will work closely with the project team to provide impartial ex-ante and ex-post evaluation of the GEPs. A Network of Gender Equality Observatories (GEOs) will be established in the B&M schools of the participating institutions to foster the sustainability of the GEPs and support the dissemination of the project results. The higher and middle management of all participating institutions have made unequivocal commitments for implementing the GEPs to achieve institutional change. TARGETED-MPI has also secured the support of critical gender equality stakeholders including professional organisations. The implementation of GEPs will improve GE in academic careers and gender participation in decision making bodies, and will foster the inclusion of gender consideration in research and innovation content.