Gender-SMART - Gender in Science Management of Agriculture & Life Sciences, including Research and Teaching

2019-2022

Gender-SMART is about achieving gender equality in Research Performing and Research Funding Organizations operating in the agricultural and life sciences research field. This field, essential to humanity and strongly affected by gender biases, is of specific relevance to implement changes aiming at making research more open to societal challenges. The goal of Gender-SMART is for each partner to design tailor-made Gender Equality Plans that will be implemented, tackling the following areas of actions:

  • Building a Gender Equality Culture
  • Developing equal career support measures
  • Reshaping decision-making and governance
  • Integrating gender in funding, research and teaching
The Deliverables & Good Practices of the project, can be found here. Each Partner of Gender-SMART has designed 7 tailor-made Gender Equality Plans which are currently being implemented at each partner’s institution. Watch the video of Gender-SMART GEP’s in a Nutshell here. Cyprus University of Technology designed its tailor-made Equality Plan which is currently under implementation. The design of the Equality Plan aims to commit our University to a dynamic and innovative culture based on equality, diversity and inclusion. In today’s competitive global environment, the most successful universities will be those that fully utilize the talents and potential of all staff and student communities without bias or discrimination. The Cyprus University of Technology through the implementation of the Equality Plan (2022-2024) takes an active position in the fight against inequalities and stereotypes that are reproduced on the basis of intersectional aspects – gender, race, age, disability, sexuality, social – economic situation – with the aim of spreading knowledge, and promoting existing and institutionalizing new politicians to create an inclusive working and academic environment. The Equality Plan 2022-2024 was approved at the 12th Meeting of the Equality Senate Committee (31.5.2022) and at the 117th Meeting of the Senate Committee (15.6.2022). You may find the CUT Equality Plan (2022-2024) available here.
Cyprus University of Technology Radio Station introduced a Show dedicated on Equality & Inclusion, named “CUT it out: How to CUT bias and discrimination out of your life.” The Show was presenting weekly different topics related to inclusion and diversity, with a series of guest speakers hosted every week. You can listen to the Show on Spotify. Α series of interviews took place at CUT’s Radio Show in view of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2022. Sixteen women in Science from around Europe were interviewed, you may find their interviews here.

CUT is one of the members of the European University of Technology, and last week all the partners were meeting in Cyprus for a series of meetings and events.

On Tuesday, the 22nd of September, CUT hosted at the University the first Panel Discussion on the topic «EUt+: A beacon of equal opportunities for all». The President of the Parliament of Cyprus, Annita Demetriou, was one of the panelists, among the Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on gender mainstreaming in foreign policy, the Officer of the Commissioner of Administration and the Protection of Human Rights and a student, representing people with disabilities. 

CUT is one of the members of the European University of Technology, and last week all the partners were meeting in Cyprus for a series of meetings and events.

On Tuesday, the 22nd of September, CUT hosted at the University the first Panel Discussion on the topic «EUt+: A beacon of equal opportunities for all». The President of the Parliament of Cyprus, Annita Demetriou, was one of the panelists, among the Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on gender mainstreaming in foreign policy, the Officer of the Commissioner of Administration and the Protection of Human Rights and a student, representing people with disabilities. Our colleague, Dimitris Tsaltas, Associate Professor & Department Vice Chair of the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science was also one of the members of the Panel, invited to present the important work of Gender-SMART, focused on the creation of the Gender Equality Plan. That was a big achievement for CUT, and the Gender-SMART project wishes to congratulates all the work that was done.

The President of the Parliament, Annita Demetriou, who was elected last June, pointed as conclusive remarks the importance of setting as a priority the issues of equality, diversity and inclusion. She congratulated the Cyprus University of Technology on the initiatives it undertakes and implements in the direction of equality and diversity. In addition to her declaration, you will find in the video replay all great arguments and points that were raised, as such discussion was hosted only a few times in Cyprus (if never!).
Watch the discussion here.

Our colleague, Dimitris Tsaltas, Associate Professor & Department Vice Chair of the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science was also one of the members of the Panel, invited to present the important work of Gender-SMART, focused on the creation of the Gender Equality Plan. That was a big achievement for CUT, and the Gender-SMART project wishes to congratulates all the work that was done.

The President of the Parliament, Annita Demetriou, who was elected last June, pointed as conclusive remarks the importance of setting as a priority the issues of equality, diversity and inclusion. She congratulated the Cyprus University of Technology on the initiatives it undertakes and implements in the direction of equality and diversity. In addition to her declaration, you will find in the video replay all great arguments and points that were raised, as such discussion was hosted only a few times in Cyprus (if never!).
Watch the discussion here.

Additional information can be found in:

For more information, please contact:

Dimitris Tsaltas

Associate Professor

Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology & Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology
dimitris.tsaltas@cut.ac.cy

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