Researchers from Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) hosted an international conference last month to kick-start the first phase of a significant project to improve gender equality across all Business and Management Schools.

The high-level, multi-national, two-day workshop, saw LUMS researchers welcome participants from Greece, Belgium, Lebanon, Sweden, Denmark and the UK, to review and share experiences of gender equality issues. This was part of the Transparent And Resilient Gender Equality Through Integrated Monitoring Planning and Implementation research project, a Horizon 2020 TARGETED MPI four-year international consortium dedicated to advancing gender equality in Business and Management Schools.

Professors Claire Leitch, Valerie Stead and Konstantinos Zografos, along with Dr Sophie Alkhaled and Dr Robyn Remke make up the LUMS team.

The debates generated during the event between academics, lobbyists, and senior leaders from research funding organisations, business and independent organisations, provided insights into how gender equality can be addressed across different cultural contexts in the development, implementation and monitoring of Gender Equality Plans. Information captured throughout the event will help contribute to the project’s next steps.

Principal Investigator Professor Claire Leitch said “The workshop provided a fantastic opportunity for the project team to gain insights and experiences from a multi-cultural perspective to inform our next steps on Gender Equality Planning.

“We are excited to be part of this prestigious project that will lead to a clear set of tested gender equality plans, principles and practices which will take the form of a ‘toolbox’ to help Business and Management Schools develop and implement gender equity within their universities.”