Using the leverage effect: interlinking gender equality policies at the national and European level

Gender equality policies in higher education are a topic at the European as well as the national level. At the EU level, gender equality is formulated as one priority of the European Research Area (ERA) which is reflected in the gender equality plan (GEP) requirement for institutions applying for funding in Horizon Europe. Furthermore, in the context of ERA, member states and associated countries are requested to develop policies at the national level that support gender equality in higher education. Currently, there is no mechanism that links the development and implementation of policies at the EU and national levels. This is supported by a lack of strong monitoring which provides information about policy implementation as well as a missing gender equality discourse at both levels. The presentation argues that the missing linkage of policies at the EU and national level weakens gender equality objectives at both levels. Several reasons are responsible for this: (1) due to a lack of a policy exchange between the EU and the national level a joint understanding of gender equality challenges and objectives cannot be assumed, (2) isolated developments at the EU and national level may lead to divergent expectations or standards regarding the quality of policy implementation and (3) EU as well as national authorities have to develop on their own strategies to combat resistance towards gender equality policies. A joint approach considering the specific context and development at the national level would increase the level of coherence regarding gender equality policy, provide a basis for mutual reflection and learning and thus contribute to a cross-national and cross-level policy exchange.