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

Montenegro	COO	University Adriatic, Faculty of Management Herceg Novi
Lithuania	BEN	Vilniaus Universitetas
Slovenia	BEN	Univerza v Mariboru
Montenegro	BEN	University of Montenegro
Bosnia and Herzegovina	BEN	NUBL
Bosnia and Herzegovina	BEN	Univeristy in Tuzla
Bosnia and Herzegovina	BEN	Udruzenje mladih zena GirlThing Tuzla
Montenegro	BEN	Socio-ekonomski centar Crne Gore
Serbia	BEN	Western Balkans Institute
Serbia	BEN	University Singidunum

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)

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Study Visit to the University of Tuzla – Erasmus+ Project GEAR

As part of the Erasmus+ project GEAR (Gender Equality in Academia and Research), consortium representatives participated in a study visit to the University of Tuzla from April 2nd to 4th, 2025. The visit was dedicated to the development of gender-sensitive support systems in higher education institutions, with special emphasis on tracking academic and professional careers, fostering critical thinking, empowering female students, and promoting work-life balance through institutional toolkits. During the three-day event, several key workshops were organized.

On the first day, under the coordination of the University of Maribor, the 3rd Workshop on Introduction of Gender-Sensitive Tracking of Academic Careers of Students and Tracking of Professional Careers of Graduates, the 2nd Workshop on Development of Critical Thinking and Gender Empowerment Toolkit and MOOC for Students, and the 1st Workshop on Development and Implementation of Girls’ Business Mentoring Program were held.

On the second day, with the coordination of Vilnius University and strong support from the host University of Tuzla, the 3rd Workshop on Development of Gender Equality and Work-Life Balance University Toolkits with M&E Instruments (including Departmental Frameworks Analysis) and the 3rd Workshop on Development of GEPs/Exchange and Revision of Implementation Outcomes and Issues took place.

The visit concluded with a field visit to the “Girls in Science” club in Tuzla, further reinforcing the consortium’s joint commitment to gender equality in education and research.
This study visit represented a significant opportunity for partners to exchange experiences, strengthen collaboration, and build sustainable frameworks for integrating gender equality principles across academic institutions. The knowledge and tools developed during these workshops will play a crucial role in shaping more inclusive, diverse, and supportive environments for future generations of students and researchers.

U okviru Erasmus+ projekta GEAR (Rodna ravnopravnost u akademiji i istraživanju), predstavnici konzorcijuma učestvovali su u studijskoj posjeti Univerzitetu u Tuzli od 2. do 4. aprila 2025. godine. Posjeta je bila posvećena razvoju rodno osjetljivih sistema podrške u visokom obrazovanju, sa posebnim fokusom na praćenje akademskih i profesionalnih karijera, jačanje kritičkog mišljenja, osnaživanje studentkinja i promociju ravnoteže između poslovnog i privatnog života kroz institucionalne alate.

Tokom trodnevnog događaja organizovane su brojne radionice.

Prvog dana, pod koordinacijom Univerziteta u Mariboru, održane su Treća radionica o uvođenju rodno osjetljivog praćenja akademskih karijera studenata i profesionalnih karijera diplomaca, Druga radionica o razvoju Priručnika za razvoj kritičkog mišljenja i osnaživanje kroz rodnu perspektivu i izrade MOOC kursa za studente i Prva radionica o razvoju i implementaciji Programa mentorstva za djevojke u biznisu.

Drugog dana, pod koordinacijom Univerziteta u Vilniusu i uz značajnu podršku domaćina sa Univerziteta u Tuzli, održane su Treća radionica o razvoju univerzitetskih alata za rodnu ravnopravnost i balans između poslovnog i privatnog života sa instrumentima za mjerenje i evaluaciju (uključujući analizu departmanskih okvira) i Treća radionica o razvoju Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) i razmjeni i reviziji rezultata implementacije.

Posjeta je zaključena obilaskom Kluba “Girls in Science” u Tuzli, dodatno osnažujući zajedničku posvećenost konzorcijuma promociji rodne ravnopravnosti u obrazovanju i istraživanju.

Ova studijska posjeta predstavljala je značajnu priliku za razmjenu iskustava, jačanje saradnje i izgradnju održivih okvira za integraciju principa rodne ravnopravnosti u akademske institucije. Znanja i alati razvijeni tokom radionica imaće ključnu ulogu u oblikovanju inkluzivnijeg, raznovrsnijeg i podržavajućeg okruženja za buduće generacije studenata i istraživača.

 

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.

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Erasmus+ projekat GEAR: Održan trening i studentska konferencija na Univerzitetu Crne Gore