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Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges: Advancing Gender Equality in Academia

Didem Unat

dunat@ku.edu.tr

EUGAIN • 20 Sept 2023

Koç University

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Innovation

Innovation is the illustration of brilliance of women in science

wearing many different hats at the same time.

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Hat 1: Teacher

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Hat 2: Project Coordinator

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Hat 3: Scientist

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1.5 M Euros

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First ERC grant received from Turkey in Computer Science

Two ERC Starting Grant Holders at KU COMP

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How to prepare grants for ERC?

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Hat 4: Research Team Leader

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Hat 5: Technical Leader in Supercomputing

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Hat 6: Conference Organizer

Representation in Leadership Roles:

  • Ensure diversity not only among conference participants but also in leadership roles, such as technical program committees and keynote speakers

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An example target technical program committee

In addition to those criterias, we pay attention to geographic diversity.

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(Big) Hat 7: Mother of Two

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Hat 8: Responsible Citizen

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Koç University Gender Equality Office

  • GEO is established within the Rectorate
  • Prime contact point for the sustainable implementation of gender equality action items
  • Supports and advises all units on gender equality matters
  • Develops and launches collaborative initiatives for innovative inclusiveness

Gender Equality at KU

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KU General Demographics

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According to She Figures 2021, only 26.2% of full professors were women in 2018 in the EU whilst the European Universities Association found in 2019 that only 14% of rectors in 46 countries with EUA members were female.

Full Professors

Leadership Roles

% Women

Academic Leadership Roles

42%

Administrative Managers

52%

Recruitment

% Women

Academic

53%

Administrative

59%

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Gender Inclusive Teaching

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Gender Inclusive Teaching Improvement

•Developing gender-responsive pedagogical practices in your teaching

•Integrating gender-equal educational design principles into teaching materials and practices in a meaningful and transformative way

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Addressing implicit bias and gendered discriminations in the hidden curriculum

Transforming the syllabus for a more intersectional and inclusive content

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Creating a safe and inclusive classroom culture

Developing awareness, skills, and knowledge of the learners about gender equality and women’s empowerment

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Designing gender-fair and inclusive assessment methods

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Support after Career Breaks

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  • Aims to address the challenges faced by female scientists who have taken time off for caregiving responsibilities and seeks to provide them with institutional support.

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  • The grant provides institutional support for female faculty members to make a smooth transition back to their research careers.

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  • Considers the gender-sensitive disadvantages that may arise from gender-blind policies and helps these female faculty members make a smooth transition back to their research careers.

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  • Provides necessary resources to update their lecture materials and refocus on their research after a long career break.

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Support after Career Breaks

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The transition after career breaks is difficult because we have less time to do the same work.

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dunat@ku.edu.tr

https://parcorelab.ku.edu.tr/

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Thank you!