The European GEPARD Project: Qualitative Analysis of Gender Equality Plans in European Universities and the UGEP Toolkit

Abstract This contribution analyzes the Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) of European universities to identify the main thematic clusters and assess the effectiveness of gender mainstreaming strategies. To this end, we present two interconnected objectives: a) to examine the inclusion of gender perspectives in university policies, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and to propose interventions to improve gender inclusion; b) to analyze, through an external validation process, the data collected from the project’s Universal Gender Equality Plan – UGEP Toolkit. For the first objective, 36 GEPs were analyzed using a qualitative approach with T-LAB software and a K-means algorithm to map correlations between central themes. For the second objective, an external validation analysis was conducted on 82 UGEP Toolkits, using blended peer review by two external experts. The results of the qualitative analysis of the GEPs show that the clusters "Gender" and "Woman" are central to the discourse on equality, with a strong relationship between gender awareness and student engagement. In line with UGEP Toolkit choices, other clusters highlight the need for continuous training, effective institutional policies, and research on gender-based harassment. Specifically, the external validation of the UGEP Toolkit highlighted that the key themes for gender equality are work-life balance, organizational culture, and continuous training. Moreover, a growing interest in intersectionality and the adoption of innovative approaches emerged, reflecting increased awareness of multiple inequalities.