Online the March issue of FocusUnimore on gender equality
FocusUnimore, the in-depth magazine of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, highlights Unimore’s commitment to gender equality as the main theme of the March issue. The magazine examines the policies implemented by the University, such as the Gender Balance and the Gender Equality Plan, which are essential tools for monitoring and promoting inclusion.
To mark International Women's Rights Day, Unimore focused on the state of gender equality in the research and development sector in Italy. Data from the European Commission's "She Figures" report show an increase in the number of female professors in the top ranks, rising from 25% in 2012 to 29.9% in 2023 at Unimore. However, the percentage remains below 30%, indicating the need for further progress.
In 2024, Unimore approved the Gender Balance, a document that analyses the gender context at the University and proposes actions to improve the balance between men and women. The document follows the guidelines of the National Conference of Equality Bodies of Italian Universities and is part of the gender-sensitive performance cycle of the European project "LeTSGEPs".
To address the gender gap in STEM fields, Unimore has enhanced the "Digital Girls" project, expanding the summer camp offering to 15 editions in 2025. The camps, aimed at high school female students, will cover new scientific areas such as bioengineering, electronics, and mechanics. Moreover, the project is expanding to Mantua with training courses for middle school girls, consolidating its mission to bring young women closer to the digital and technological world.
Unimore has organised several events to raise awareness within the community on gender equality. The Department of Life Sciences held the event "Building an Inclusive Future in Research", involving over 120 high school students, and participated for the second year in the "Global Women's Breakfast 2025" promoted by IUPAC, focused on gender equality in science.
Unimore is also leading the project "Understanding Gender-Based Violence in Italian Universities," which involves the universities of Milan, Turin, and Rome La Sapienza. The project analysed the prevalence of gender-based violence in Italian universities, identifying strategies for prevention and response. The results will be presented at a conference on April 4th in Modena.
Moreover, Unimore is collaborating with the Province of Reggio Emilia to create the Provincial Observatory Against Gender Differences in the Workplace. This project analyses the gender gap in the local labour market, with particular attention to inequalities in professional opportunities and pay.
Sustainability and gender equality are also central to an international project launched with PNRR funds, involving Unimore, titled "Green&Pink for Sustainable Education and UNIgreen." The project aims to promote sustainability and gender equality through cooperation between Italian and international universities, as well as UNIgreen, which seeks to strengthen training and research on sustainable agriculture and green biotechnology.
Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng
Articolo pubblicato da: Ufficio Stampa Unimore - ufficiostampa@unimore.it