On Monday and Tuesday, February 26 and 27, a kick-off meeting for the Erasmus+ project GEAR: Gender Equality in Academia and Research was held at the Herceg Novi Management Faculty (Adriatik Bar University).
Both days of the meeting were busy, with an analysis of the current situation in the field of gender equality, with a special focus on science and research, planning of the next meetings and workshops, and organization of work packages and the project itself.
The aim of the Erasmus+ GEAR project is to improve quality and build capacity in higher education, and the project itself was developed to provide support for addressing social issues stemming from gender inequality in education, science and work, and in line with regional economic development. In addition, this project should provide space for inclusive activities of women who are underrepresented in higher education.
The project should contribute to the overall priority of the European Commission related to the Western Balkans: sustainable development and employment. Quality education is a key factor for ensuring growth and development, but also for addressing challenges such as unemployment and the mismatch of skills with the needs of the labor market. By investing in human capital and entrepreneurship, society prepares for the future, stopping the "brain drain" and supporting the transition to knowledge-based economies.
The members of the consortium, in addition to the Faculty of Management Herceg Novi, as coordinators, are Vilniaus University (Lithuania), University of Maribor (Slovenia), University of Montenegro, Independent University of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina), University of Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Singidunum University (Serbia), and organizations GirlThing Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Socio-Economic Center of Montenegro, and Western Balkan Institute (Serbia).
The project is expected to last three years, and its completion is planned for November 30, 2026.
