Promoting gender equality – article archive

‘Mums and Dads Welcome’ Conference 2026

On 23 April 2026, from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm, the ‘Mothers and Fathers Welcome 2026’ conference will take place at zenwork – ARA Palace, Perlová 371/5, Prague.

This year’s conference will build on the themes of previous successful editions. The focus will be on the reduction in the length of parental leave and systemic changes to the parental leave system. We will focus in greater detail on the positive economic impacts that this change brings – whether in terms of greater labour market flexibility or the expansion of access to pre-school care. Following the Swedish model, we will examine the possibility of involving grandparents in childcare – so-called “grandparent leave”. Once again, we will address issues relating to the economic and social accessibility of parenthood in the Czech Republic, against the backdrop of unfavourable demographic trends and a falling birth rate.

The programme also includes presentations on best practice by companies in this area, specifically the best practice of Česká spořitelna, a.s., an Ambassador of the Diversity Charter, and best practice from Heineken Česká Republika, a.s.

Details of the programme and the application form can be found on the DIVERZITA website.

The L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science 2026 Programme

The L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science Programme announced on 1 February 2026 that it was accepting applications for funding. In 2026, the award will amount to 600,000 CZK and will be shared among three female scientists. The winners may use this sum at their own discretion for the direct or indirect development of their careers. In addition to financial support, the winners will also receive media coverage, which will help them build a professional network and inspire young girls to pursue a career in science.

Female scientists aged 40 or under (inclusive) who hold a PhD in one of the supported scientific disciplines are eligible to apply for the award.

Key information about the call for applications:

• Application deadline: 30 April 2026
• Announcement of results: by 31 May 2026
• Oral project presentation: June 2026
• Total funding allocated for the call: 600,000 CZK
• Maximum amount of funding per project: 200,000 CZK

The terms and conditions of the call can be found HERE.

If you are interested, please contact the project manager, Mgr. Ondřej Najman, from the Faculty of Informatics’ Research and Project Support Department.

Implementation of the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University’s Gender Equality Plan in 2025

For the Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, 2025 was marked by progress in the areas of promoting equality, ensuring a safe environment and caring for staff. The principles of gender equality were reflected in practice through internal processes and communication. Webpages dedicated to gender equality and the prevention of harassment were developed; amongst other things, they were supplemented with visual guides and information on who to contact in various situations. A faculty e-course on the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence was also created.

Onboarding and offboarding procedures were further developed, including the introduction of an e-course for departing staff and an anonymous exit questionnaire.

Emphasis was placed on supporting the work-life balance. Workshops were offered by CERPEK and the Department of Human Resources Management at the MU Rectorate, focusing on mental wellbeing, burnout prevention, etc., whilst support for carers continued through information on nursery fees, return-to-work grants and childcare options.

The Faculty of Informatics’ Gender Equality Plan also covers the protection of rights and a safe environment. The faculty’s ‘Ethics and Protection of Rights’ webpage underwent a major overhaul. Further activities centred on incorporating the principles of gender equality into promotional materials and on social media. The faculty page ‘Women in IT – Inspirational Women at the Faculty of Informatics’ was also developed, with profiles of inspirational women at the Faculty of Informatics being added to it.

The implementation of the individual measures of the FI Gender Equality Plan for 2025 can be found HERE: CZ version and EN version. The Faculty of Informatics also played an active role in implementing the Masaryk University Gender Equality Plan.

NKC Workshop – Gender and Science: Leading Focus Groups

On 31 March 2026, from 10 am to 1 pm, this year’s first NKC workshop – Gender and Change, Communities for Change – will take place on the topic of leading focus groups.

In the first part of the workshop, you will experience what it is like to be a member of a focus group. The aim of the workshop is:

• To strengthen members’ skills in facilitating focus groups within the institution.
• To build internal capacity in the field of social science methods and their application to the gender equality agenda within the institution.
• To share current needs and challenges in advancing the gender equality agenda across institutions.

The second part of the workshop will be devoted to the theoretical underpinnings of facilitating focus groups and reflecting on the first part of the workshop, so as to link the knowledge gained theoretically with that gained through experience.

If you are interested in attending, you must register for the event using this form.

Webinar: ‘What Works in Gender Equality and Diversity? Lessons from Research Organisations’

On 27 March 2026, from 9.00 am to 10.30 am, CEITEC MU will host a webinar focusing on gender equality and diversity in research organisations, entitled ‘What Works in Gender Equality and Diversity? Lessons from Research Organisations (Alliance4Life).

The webinar is aimed at representatives of universities and research organisations, including senior staff at these institutions, human resources specialists, research managers, and colleagues involved in implementing gender equality plans. The aim is not to present abstract principles, but to share specific experiences from institutions – what works in practice, what proves challenging, and how gender equality and diversity can be implemented in a systematic and sustainable manner.

The speakers will be Eglė Girštautienė from Vilnius University, Baiba Švalbe from the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, and Eliška Handlířová from CEITEC MU.

If you are interested in attending, you must register for the event on the CEITEC MU website.

Workshop: Mental Wellbeing for Every Day: How to Effectively Manage Stress and Maintain Balance in Your Professional and Personal Life

On 12 March 2026, from 9 am to 1 pm, a workshop will take place in room S211 ‘Mental Hygiene for Every Day: How to Effectively Manage Stress and Maintain Balance in Your Professional and Personal Life’ will take place in room S211 from 9 am to 1 pm, led by lecturer Assoc. Prof. PhDr. Alena Slezáčková, Ph.D.

The workshop focuses on promoting mental health and a healthy work-life balance. Together, we will reflect on how to maintain our energy and find joy in both work and life, even in the midst of challenging days. You will learn about the fundamental sources of mental wellbeing and psychological resilience, as well as effective methods for managing stress, keeping a sense of perspective and maintaining a healthy balance between work commitments and time for yourself. You’ll try out simple exercises to release physical tension and restore your vitality. You’ll leave feeling inspired on how to support your mental wellbeing in everyday life. All this in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere that will allow you to recharge your batteries and take inspiration back with you for your everyday life.

Registration for the event is available on TUDLE.

‘Communities for Change’ workshop on the theme of ‘Catalysts for Change’

On 11 March 2026, from 10 am to 11 am, an online workshop entitled ‘Catalysts for Change’ will take place on the ZOOM platform. The workshop will be led by Mgr. Marcela Linková, Ph.D. The workshop is intended for those responsible for implementing the gender equality plan in the fields of science and higher education.

The ‘Catalysts for Change’ model is an evaluation model that can assist in assessing the implementation of the Gender Equality Plan (GEP). This online tool is now available in Czech and offers a comprehensive framework based on ‘catalysts for change’, known in English as ‘Impact Drivers’. The tool offers higher education institutions and research organisations the opportunity to assess the conditions for promoting gender equality. It assesses these conditions across twelve areas that are key to the process of institutional change (hence ‘Impact Drivers’, i.e. the factors that drive change), on a six-point scale of institutionalisation. After completing the self-assessment questionnaire, the institution will receive a detailed report showing the status of implementation, together with specific recommendations for each area.

If you are interested in taking part, please register HERE.

CZARMA Round Table on Barriers to International Mobility in Research

On 4 March 2026, from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm, a CZARMA roundtable on the topic of ‘Barriers to international mobility in research – the employment of foreign researchers and research fellows and stays abroad’ will take place at the Technology Centre in Prague.

The following topics will be discussed at the meeting:

• (In)efficient visa and residence procedures – delays, inflexible processes, unclear documentation, limited embassy capacity, etc.
• Legislative and tax complications when researchers travel abroad.
• Lack of support mechanisms for ‘brain circulation’.
• Examples of good practice and possible solutions – e.g. the proposal for a European research visa, fast-track procedures for researchers, digitalisation.

Representatives from the Czech Ministry of the Interior, the Czech Ministry of Health, EURAXESS centres, CZARMA, universities and research institutions, as well as the HR Award platform, will discuss these topics.

Workshop: Unconscious Bias in Science and Research

On 3 February 2026, a workshop entitled ‘Unconscious Bias in Science and Research’ took place at the Faculty of Economics and Public Administration. It was led by Mgr. Dagmar Krišová and Mgr. et Mgr. Gabriela Langhammerová, Ph.D., who work at the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, within the National Contact Centre – Gender and Science.

The workshop focused primarily on the following topics:

• Unconscious biases, including (un)conscious biases in AI.
• Gender biases and stereotypes.
• How to avoid bias.
• How biases are reflected in research content

The workshop explored how unconscious biases influence not only who can engage in science, but also the nature of the science itself – that is, what is researched and how, what is funded and how, and how research findings are applied. Attention was also given to well-known ‘biases’ – systematic errors in data collection or evaluation that distort the results. Examples include beauty bias, affinity bias, confirmation bias, likeability bias and the halo effect.

We would like to thank the ESF at Masaryk University for the opportunity to take part.

Invitation to the event ‘Holding Power Responsibly: Leadership, Integrity, and Safety in Higher Education’

The event, entitled ‘Holding Power Responsibly: Leadership, Integrity, and Safety in Higher Education’, will take place under the patronage of the British Ambassador, Mr Matt Field, on Friday 13 February 2026 from 10.00 to 13.00 at the British Embassy, Thunovská 14, Prague 1, to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

The event is aimed at senior management of higher education institutions and research organisations, ombudspersons, HR professionals and others responsible for addressing issues of gender equality and gender-based violence. Its aim is to translate research findings on professional boundaries into concrete actions and responsibilities for institutional leadership, to share an understanding of what constitutes good institutional practice (including establishing rules for relationships in situations of power imbalance), and to discuss the implementation of codes of ethics and rules on professional boundaries within the Czech academic environment.

The keynote speaker will be Dr Anna Bull (University of York; The 1752 Group), a leading expert on issues of professional boundaries, power and institutional accountability in the academic environment.

Further information and the registration form for the event can be found HERE.

MU workshops focusing on intercultural differences

Since 15 January 2026, Masaryk University has had a new Platform for Internal Training for Staff and PhD Students at Masaryk University. The first workshops offered via this platform focus on intercultural differences. The academic environment is becoming increasingly international, which brings not only enrichment but also misunderstandings stemming from different approaches to communication, time or authority. These workshops provide the basics for understanding cultural differences and show how to use them as a source of inspiration and effective collaboration rather than frustration.

A workshop entitled ‘Intercultural Differences in the Role of a Manager’ will take place on 9 February 2026. The workshop focuses on the specifics of working in a culturally diverse environment, on the sensitive and effective leadership of international teams, and on applying intercultural understanding to day-to-day managerial practice. Participants will gain practical tools, share experiences and learn to adapt their leadership style whilst respecting different values and working styles. Details and the registration form can be found on the MUNI Internal Training website.

A workshop entitled ‘Intercultural Differences and Cooperation’ will take place on 9 February 2026. The workshop will guide participants through the basics of understanding the cultural frameworks that influence our work habits, relationships and communication styles. It will help them develop sensitivity to cultural differences and teach them to view these differences as a source of inspiration rather than frustration. Further details and the application form can be found on the MUNI Internal Training website.

FI E-course: Prevention of Gender-Based Violence

What forms of violence fall under the term ‘gender-based violence’? Can you encounter it on campus too?

We have put together an interactive training course on the MU Information System for staff at the Faculty of Informatics, which explains the phenomenon of gender-based violence and offers strategies on how to respond should they encounter it on campus. The content was developed by the Nora Gender Information Centre, o.p.s. The training materials were produced as part of the project ‘Prevention of gender-based violence in the workplace at public research institutions and universities in the Czech Republic’, which was financially supported by Norway through the Norwegian Funds.

Topics covered in the course include, for example, gender-based prejudice against women in academic and research settings, sexual harassment, psychological forms of gender-based violence, prejudice against women in the recruitment process, and gender-balanced language.

The online course on the prevention of gender-based violence can be found HERE.

Webinar on “Gendering Ethics and Integrity”

We are sharing an invitation to the webinar “Gendering Ethics and Integrity” as part of the Gender+ & Intersectionality in Biomedical Research thematic hub. The session will explore how ethics, research integrity, gender and intersectionality shape everyday research practice and contribute to institutional change. The webinar will take place online on 10 December 2025 between 1 pm and 3 pm (CET) in English. It will be an interactive session designed to encourage participatory discussion (not a one-way lecture).

The Gender+ & Intersectionality in Biomedical Research Thematic Hub offers a space for collective learning, critical reflection and the sharing of experiences regarding how structural inequalities affect the research environment and the balancing of work and personal life.

The target audience is anyone working in the fields of equality and diversity and/or biomedicine and other disciplines. Registration for the webinar is required: REGISTRATION FORM.

‘Communities for Change’ workshop on applying an intersectional perspective to data collection and analysis

On 9 December 2025, from 9 am to 1 pm, the fourth ‘Communities for Change’ workshop of the year will take place at Vila Lanna (V Sadech 1/1, Prague 6), this time focusing on the application of an intersectional perspective in data collection and analysing data – examples of good practice. The workshop will focus on how to approach the creation, distribution and evaluation of questionnaires in such a way that an intersectional perspective is taken into account and the survey results provide the institution with relevant and useful input for further decision-making and policy-making. Good practice will be shared by Mgr. Dita Jahodová, Ombudswoman at the Faculty of Architecture, Czech Technical University in Prague, and Ing. Bohdana Šlégrová, HR specialist and Head of the Personnel Development Department at Brno University of Technology.

The workshop’s objectives include:

• To familiarise participants with the possibilities of applying an intersectional perspective when collecting and evaluating data.
• Sharing best practice in the preparation of surveys and the collection and analysis of data.
• To identify the limitations and opportunities associated with data collection and analysis, taking an intersectional perspective into account.
• Collaborating on the formulation of practical recommendations for applying an intersectional approach in practice.

If you are interested in taking part, please register HERE.

Joint Declaration on Gender Equality in Higher Education, Research and Innovation

Instruct-ERIC (a pan-European research infrastructure that provides users with access to cutting-edge technologies and methods in the field of structural biology; see the Instruct-ERIC website for details) signed a joint declaration on 27 October 2025, together with all eleven European research institutions that have received the EU Prize for Champions of Gender Equality, a joint declaration committing to promoting gender equality and the gender dimension in research and innovation.

“Attracting more women to academic careers and ensuring the highest standards of research quality are essential for strengthening the role of science in addressing societal and economic challenges. To achieve this goal, it is essential that we continue to promote gender equality in European and international cooperation.” These words come from a joint statement that recognises real progress, ranging from institutional changes through gender equality plans and greater awareness of bias to strengthened responses to gender-based violence. It also highlights persistent challenges: unequal treatment, the pay gap and the lack of a gender perspective in research and innovation.

The full text of the statement can be found HERE.

Results of the CAREER RESTART 2026 competition

The results of the Career Restart competition for 2026 were announced on 8 December 2025 at the GAMU annual conference held at CEITEC MU. Applications for the grant were open from 1 September to 10 October 2025. Successful applicants will receive funding of 500,000 crowns per year for a period of two years.

The aim of Career Restart is to create conditions for the reintegration of female and male researchers following a career break (for example, due to parental leave, long-term illness or the need to provide long-term care for a close relative) into research teams at MU. CAREER RESTART grants will facilitate and accelerate the return of talented young researchers to productive scientific careers, thereby increasing their representation in independent/senior research positions. Detailed information can be found HERE.

Elizabeth Maria Karpukhina Busswood – one of the faces of this year’s recruitment campaign for the Faculty of Informatics at MU

Meet one of the faces of this year’s recruitment campaign for the Faculty of Informatics at MU, Elizabeth Maria Karpukhina Busswood. She successfully completed the bachelor’s programme in Programming and Application Development and is now continuing her studies in the master’s programme in Software Engineering. Speaking about her journey, she says that at the Faculty of Informatics she found exactly what she had expected from university – and much more besides. New friends, cafés and the endless opportunities the faculty offers are among the main reasons why she has fallen in love with Brno.

In her interview with Marta Vrlová from the Department of External Relations and Partnerships at FI MU, you’ll find out what it’s like to be part of the FI community, why she decided to study at FI in particular, what she believes best characterises studying at FI, and many other interesting facts and insights about FI.

You can find the full article on the FI website.

Invitation to a workshop: Gender Roles in Working Life

Discover how cultural patterns and stereotypes influence our professional roles, decision-making and relationships – come along to a workshop on gender roles in working life. Our roles at work are not shaped solely by our skills and experience. Cultural patterns, social expectations and stereotypes also play a significant role – often operating unconsciously. The first workshop in a series dedicated to the topic of gender in the workplace will provide an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a man or a woman in professional life and how these influences shape our decision-making, relationships and career paths.

The workshop will take place on 21 November 2025 from 9 am to 1 pm, led by lecturer Assoc. Prof. Lucie Jarkovská, Ph.D..

At the workshop, you will have the opportunity to:

• reflect on your own attitudes and experiences,
• recognise unconscious biases that may influence workplace interactions,
• explore ways to create a more open and fairer working environment.

Registration opens on 16 October 2025 at 9.00 am on the CERPEK MU website.

The CAREER RESTART grant scheme for 2026

CAREER RESTART: Supporting the integration of researchers returning to work after a career break into research teams at MU – call for applications for 2026.

Since 2020, the MU Grant Agency has been implementing the CAREER RESTART grant scheme, which aims to create conditions for the integration of researchers returning to work after a career break – for example, due to parental leave – into research teams at MU. CAREER RESTART grants will facilitate and accelerate the return of talented young researchers to productive academic careers, thereby increasing their representation in independent/senior research positions. Detailed information can be found in the September Newsletter of the Faculty of Informatics’ Research and Project Support Department and on the MU Grant Agency website.

Training on personal and collective safety at the Faculty of Informatics

On 24 April 2025, a training session on personal and collective safety at FI took place, led by Mgr. Pavel Bojanovský, MU’s safety manager. More than 40 academic and non-academic staff members from the Faculty of Informatics attended the training, which was organised in a hybrid format.

The training focused primarily on:

• ways to improve the personal and collective safety of staff,
• signs to look out for, assess and report,
• scenarios of the most common types of violent attacks and guidelines for behaviour during such incidents,
• managing conflictual communication situations (how to handle tense exchanges, how to safely leave the office and ensure one’s own safety),
• incidents, their reporting and record-keeping.

Invitations to events related to the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2025

What conferences, seminars and other events are taking place this year as part of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science?

On 11 February 2025, the conference ‘Become a Female Scientist for a Day’ will be held, organised by the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT) together with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at ČVUT, in collaboration with Second Foundation, BNL-CZ and CERN-CZ. The conference, featuring experts from both industry and academia, will offer participants the chance to experience science first-hand. They can choose from topics ranging from particle physics and robotics to the precise calibration of machinery.

The Faculty of Science at Charles University is organising an event on 11 February 2025 entitled ‘Women in Science: Challenges and Opportunities on the Way’. The event begins at 5.30 pm – it promises to be an evening full of inspiring stories and thought-provoking discussions, during which female researchers from various backgrounds will share their experiences.

Palacký University in Olomouc is organising a “Debate with Female Scientists at the Fortress of Knowledge” on 10 February 2025 and, on 11 February 2025, “Breakfast with Science at the Students’ Club”, which is aimed primarily at junior female researchers and PhD students. Mgr. Michaela Šaradín Lebídková, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Social Studies at Masaryk University (FSS MU), has also accepted the invitation. Her main research interests are digital intimacy and digital wellbeing, which she explores through the lens of media effects. It is precisely the topic of digital wellbeing that is being addressed as part of a joint project between FSS MU and FI MU.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science, 11 February 2025, with the NKC – Gender and Science

On 11 February 2025, the NKC will launch – Gender and Science – a month-long online campaign aimed at highlighting the changes that need to take place in the Czech academic environment to prevent a brain drain and the suppression of the potential of women and other marginalised groups. Through the involvement of inspiring female researchers and students of scientific disciplines, the campaign aims to emphasise that change is not only desirable but essential.

This year’s NKC campaign for the International Day of Women and Girls will run for a month, until Women’s History Month in March and International Women’s Day. This year’s international motto is ‘Accelerate Action’: for this reason, the NKC also wishes to emphasise the need for change within the Czech academic environment. What prevents female researchers from pursuing successful academic careers? What barriers do they face? What would they like to see changed? For more information about the campaign, visit www.genderaveda.cz.

New FI e-training course: Prevention of gender-based violence

What forms of violence fall under the term ‘gender-based violence’? Can you encounter it on university campuses too?

We have put together an interactive training course on the MU Information System for staff at the Faculty of Informatics, which explains the phenomenon of gender-based violence and offers strategies on how to respond should they encounter it on campus. The content was developed by the Nora Gender Information Centre, o.p.s. The training materials were produced as part of the project ‘Prevention of gender-based violence in the workplace at public research institutions and universities in the Czech Republic’, which was funded by Norway through the Norwegian Funds.

Topics covered in the course include, for example, gender-based prejudice against women in academic and research environments, sexual harassment, psychological forms of gender-based violence, prejudice against women in the recruitment process, and gender-balanced language.

The online course on the prevention of gender-based violence can be found HERE.

MU Gender Equality Plan 2025–2028

MU implements a range of measures to promote gender equality as part of the university’s strategic commitment to the principles of transparency, equality and accountability, whilst also aiming to support a healthy work-life balance for all its staff and students. It fulfils this commitment at the level of its constituent parts and through the activities of the university as a whole. All of this is carried out on the basis of MU’s Gender Equality Plans, as well as the individual gender plans of MU’s faculties and institutes.

Measures set out in the MU Gender Equality Plan for the period 2025–2028 are currently being implemented.

To support gender equality at MU, the university website ‘Gender Equality at MU’ was launched in January 2025.

On the website, you can find out more about the gender equality plans, key figures and institutions, and the GEP working group at MU. You will also find various educational events, publications and statistics here.

CAREER RESTART 2025 Grant Scheme

The next round of the CAREER RESTART grant scheme has been announced. The application period runs from 9 September 2024 to 18 October 2024. The results of the call will be announced at the annual GAMU conference on 11 December 2024.

The aim of CAREER RESTART is to create conditions for the reintegration of researchers who have taken a career break (for example, due to parental leave, long-term illness or the need to provide long-term care for a close relative) into research teams at MU. CAREER RESTART grants will facilitate and accelerate the return of talented young researchers to productive academic careers, thereby increasing their representation in independent/senior research positions. Detailed information can be found HERE.

The Faculty of Informatics has adopted the FI Gender Equality Plan (Part 1)

The FI Gender Equality Plan was drawn up on the basis of the findings and recommendations of a gender audit, which the FI carried out from April to September 2024 in collaboration with external experts from the NORA Gender Information Centre, with methodological support from the MU Rector’s Office.

The preparation of the FI gender audit and the FI Gender Equality Plan forms part of the faculty’s current HR Award (HRS4R) action plan. This was also the case with the first gender audit and plan in 2021. The FI gender audit covers the following key areas:

• organisational objectives and institutional safeguards for gender equality policy,
• organisational culture and workplace relations,
• the gender dimension in research,
• personnel and remuneration policy,
• well-being and work-life balance.

The six-month audit process comprised several quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis:

• analysis of public and internal university and faculty documents, websites and social media accounts of MU and FI,
• processing and analysis of statistical data,
• an online questionnaire survey,
• four face-to-face focus groups,
• face-to-face and online individual interviews with FI staff who expressed an interest in participating in the questionnaire survey.

The Faculty of Informatics has adopted the FI Gender Equality Plan (Part 2)

The audit found that the Faculty of Informatics systematically and actively promotes gender equality and diversity. Principles of equal treatment and the prohibition of discrimination are embedded at faculty level. In 2024, it focused on developing the induction process for new staff, and a performance appraisal system for non-academic staff was introduced. The Faculty of Informatics also offers a wide range of measures for staff with care responsibilities, thereby helping to balance work and personal/family life. Specific areas for improvement or development were also identified. A team of external experts proposed more than thirty measures covering seven areas:

• transforming organisational culture,
• balancing work and parenthood/personal life,
• recruitment, selection and career progression,
• balanced representation of women and men in leadership positions,
• measures against sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence,
• the gender dimension in research and innovation,
• studies and the student population.

The proposed measures include, for example, the creation of mentoring programmes to support women’s career progression; awareness-raising and training on the gender dimension in research, gender-based violence and gender-sensitive language; raising awareness of pay, benefits, the complaints procedure and anti-discrimination legislation, and the collection and analysis of gender-disaggregated data. The implementation of these measures will be subject to regular annual evaluation and review.

We would like to thank all participants in the gender audit for taking part. We greatly value your feedback, your views and the experiences you have shared. If you would like to share your suggestions for positive changes at the Faculty of Informatics, please write to or .

8th National Conference on Gender and Science

We would like to inform you of an interesting opportunity to take part in the 8th National Conference on Gender and Science, which will take place on 10 September 2024 in Prague at the Czech Academy of Sciences. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Social Security: From Challenge to Action’ and will focus on issues of safety and dignity in the academic environment, with an emphasis on the prevention of gender-based violence.

The conference is open to anyone interested in gender equality and improving conditions within scientific and academic institutions. It offers a wide range of discussions, workshops and networking activities aimed at sharing best practices and solutions for a safer and more inclusive working environment.

The conference will take place in person in Prague, with the option of online participation for those who are unable to attend in person. Further information on the programme and registration can be found on the conference’s official website.

Gender Summit (GS24) Virtual Conference

The virtual Gender Summit (GS24) will take place on 22 and 23 May 2024. The Gender Summit was established in 2011 as a result of the EU-funded genSET project, with the aim of creating a platform dedicated to gender issues within scientific institutions.

This year’s event will feature around 70 international experts who will present the latest research findings and analytical approaches to gender issues, helping the scientific community to reflect on the negative impacts of social inequality on the quality of research. The event will also provide a forum for discussion on measures to help integrate gender policy into scientific practice. The virtual conference will be followed by an in-person meeting on 19 November 2024 in Ottawa (Canada).

The detailed programme for the virtual conference is available HERE. Participation is free of charge; register HERE.

Workshop on Gender-Sensitive Communication

On 10 April 2024, staff from the Human Resources Department, the Academic Affairs Department, the Department of Doctoral and International Studies, and the Department of External Relations and Partnerships took part in an online workshop entitled ‘Gender-Sensitive Communication’. The workshop was led by trainers from NKC Gender and Science.

The primary aim of the workshop was to provide tips on how to incorporate gender-sensitive communication into day-to-day internal communication, the faculty’s regulations and documents, communication with students, and on social media.

You can download the NKC Gender and Science handbook entitled “How to Achieve Gender-Sensitive Communication within an Institution” HERE.

Courses: Monitoring and Evaluation of the Gender Equality Plan, Gender Equality in Institutions, and Gender Equality Plans I and II

Would you like to learn more about gender equality? The National Contact Centre – Gender and Science at the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences offers gender equality courses designed as e-learning programmes, publicly available to interested individuals from universities and research organisations in the Czech Republic. These courses are designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of gender equality plans, with the aim of giving participants a general overview of the topic of gender equality.

You can register for the courses HERE.

From April 2024, it will be possible to enrol in a new mini-course entitled ‘Monitoring and Evaluation of Gender Equality Plans’. The course focuses on the monitoring and evaluation of gender equality plans. It presents in detail the objectives of monitoring and evaluation, the basic concepts used in this field, as well as the guide “How to Monitor and Evaluate Gender Equality Plans” and specific tools for monitoring and evaluation.

Course: Effective Communication within International / Intercultural Teams

A short course entitled “Effective Communication within International / Intercultural Teams” will take place from 24 November 2023 to 26 November 2023.

Would you like to learn tips on how to work effectively in an international team, how to manage your time, or how to communicate remotely? Register for free for this three-day course, organised by the MU Centre for Language Education.

The course is open to MU staff and PhD students who are also employed by the university. Try out practical exercises and real-life scenarios alongside international lecturers. You must register for the course via the CJV website; it is conducted in English. The provisional programme and registration link can be found HERE.

Webinar on the gender dimension in research

Invitation: On 4 October 2023, the NKC will host a webinar on the gender dimension in research. An online workshop by Professor Stefanie Lemke from BOKU in Vienna, entitled ‘Integrating gender in food systems research – concepts, approaches and experiences from the field’, forms part of the NKC – Gender and Science educational activities focusing on the gender dimension in science. The workshop is aimed at the professional community and will be held in English.

Further information and registration for the webinar can be found HERE.

European Diversity Month

Promoting diversity and creating inclusive workplaces is a long-term endeavour. May is European Diversity Month, during which a whole range of activities take place, such as the International Conference – European Diversity Day 2023: Building Bridges – Diversity, Sustainability and Partnership, and the European Commission’s launch conference attended by European Commissioner Helena Dalli – 28 April 2023. A video recording of this conference can be found HERE.

For inspiration, ideas and topics to celebrate European Diversity Month, you may find the concise and clear Guide useful; it is available for download below in Czech and English HERE.

FI webinar on the growing role of diversity in IT

On 5 April 2023, the Faculty of Informatics (FI) held a webinar on the growing role of diversity in IT with Assoc. Prof. Ing. RNDr. Barbora Bühnová, Ph.D., Vice-Dean for Industry Relations at FI, who is also Vice-Chair of the EUGAIN Network and a co-founder and board member of Czechitas.

The webinar focused on the growing role of diversity in IT, including some findings from recent studies on the subject. Effective strategies for making IT more inclusive and open to diverse talent were discussed. Participants shared their experiences of engaging more girls in IT, including insights and strategies specifically relating to the academic environment.

You can watch the recording and view the presentation from the webinar HERE.

Minerva Informatics Equality Award – Best Practices in Supporting Women

The Minerva Informatics Equality Award recognises outstanding European initiatives and best practices that support women’s careers in research and education in informatics. The aim is to recognise successful initiatives with a measurable impact on women’s careers at all stages. These initiatives can serve as examples of best practice and be adopted by other institutions. Until 2022, the award was presented in a three-year cycle, with each year focusing on a different stage of career progression. Projects from previous years can be found HERE.

From 2023 onwards, the award focuses on any stage of women’s career progression in research and education in computer science. Best practices are set out in this Informatics Europe BROCHURE.