http://www.gendera.eu/index.php5?file=12&dq_id=53
Centre of Gender Studies
Country:
Greece
Region:
Athens
Name of Organisation:
Panteion University
Main implementing organisation:
Department of Social Policy/ Panteion
University
Line of Business:
The Departments of Panteion University are the
following: Department of Political Science and
History, Department of International and
European Studies, Department of Public
Administration, Department of Sociology,
Department of Economic and Regional
Development, Department of Social Policy,
Department of Social Anthropology,
Department of Communication, Media and
Culture, Department of Psychology and
Department of Law.
Type of initiative referring to strategic
objectives
awareness
gender in research
Type of initiative, located on the stage of career Qualification (Higher Education)
progression of women scientists
Objectives of the Initiative
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To introduce theory and research on the social construction of gender and on
gender equality in the curricula of the social and political sciences
To motivate the students' interest in issues of gender and gender equality
To provide information about employment prospects in the field of gender
equality as a result of the development of applied policies in Greece and the
European Union.
The development of research in the fields of Gender and Gender Equality
The dissemination of information on the latest national and international news
in matters of public policies and gender and information access through ICTs
on issues of gender and gender equality.
Which barriers in the career stages of females does the
initiative address?
The initiative primarily addresses undergraduate and post graduate students and
young researchers. It informs and raises awareness among young women and men
on multiple forms of gender discrimination in society and gender-bias in science. The
ensuing consciousness of young women and the scientific motivation are valuable for
their successful market integration and career advancement.
Demonstrable success of the initiative
The final outputs exceeded those originally planned.
8 new courses on gender were introduced in the curricula of 4 University
Departments. 28 courses were reorganized to include a gender dimension.
The teaching material produced (essays, bibliography, translations of articles and
chapters etc.) is on the website.
The following activities were organized:
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8 open lectures, 1 international conference, 2 film festivals, 4 film screenings
and 2 seminar series.
10 joint functions with other universities, research organizations, schools etc.
cataloguing, classification and digitalization of 4 archives of women’s
movement.
participation in 5 scientific publications (translation and editorial supervision).
There is a list of international postgraduate gender studies and Women's Studies of
Universities including information for 238 Postgraduate Programs available online.
In the Centre’s library there are 400 titles of books and magazines and 30 films and
documentaries for gender issues.
Motives for launching initiative
Gender studies are linked to Political and Social Sciences and therefore there was a
high interest from a group of University academic experts on gender issues to
undertake such an initiative.
Equal opportunity measures in the organisation before the
initiative
Several positive measures were undertaken such as:
• The development of Gender Studies programmes in the Social Sciences
• The introduction of gender and gender equality as topics in undergraduate curricula
of participating University Departments.
• The organisation of seminars on topics of applied policies on gender equality.
• The organisation of lectures about the contribution of a gender perspective in the
development of sciences in general and of social and political sciences in particular.
Target group(s) of the initiative
Direct Target Groups:
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University Students
Researchers
Indirect Target Groups:
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Academic personnel
Implementation of the initiative
The initiative was implemented for the period 2003-2008 by the following scientific
committee
(http://www.genderpanteion.gr/en/epitropi.php):A. Boutzouvi
Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and History, A. Halkias,Assistant
Professor in the Department of Sociology ,A. Lyberaki ,Professor in the Department
of Economic and Regional Development,M. Meidani Tutor in the Department of
International and European Studies ,M. Paradissi, Lecturer in the Department of
Communication, Media and Culture, X. Petrinioti Professor in the Department of
International and European Studies, A. Rigos ,Associate Professor in the Department
of Political Science and History, M. Stratigaki (Scientific Director),Assistant Professor
in the Department of Social Policy.
The initiative was funded by the operational programme EPEAEK II (4.2.1 B
“Undergraduate Programmes on Gender and Equality Issues”).
Since 2008, the Centre has been an official research laboratory of Department of
Social Policy, of Panteion University.
The Project included the following work packages:
WP1 “Development of Undergraduate courses on Gender and Equality Issues”
The new courses were the following:
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Gender in International & European Studies (DIES)
Women and Cinema (DCMC)
Gender and Advertising (DCMC)
Gender and Literature (DCMC)
Gender and the Labour Market (DERD)
Gender, Ideology and Culture (DERD)
The History of the Women's Movement (DPSH)
Gender and Politics (DPSH)
WP 2 “Development of Gender Studies in Social Sciences”
WP 3 “Establishment of Centre of Gender Studies”
WP4 ”Seminars on issues of Gender Equality Policies”
WP 5 “Publication and dissemination of results”
The initiative was accepted in a very positive way. A large number of students and
researchers visited the Centre and used its facilities such as the library specialized on
gender issues and 10 PCs of the Centre for internet access.
A large number of students and researchers visited the Centre’s website and used
the digitalised material.
Factors of success
The success of this initiative is mainly attributed to the scientific committee which
managed to achieve close collaboration between the following six University
Departments:
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Department
Department
Department
Department
Department
Department
of
of
of
of
of
of
International & European Studies (DIES)
Communication, Media and Culture
Social Policy (DSP)
Sociology (DS)
Economic and Regional Development (DERD)
Political Science & History (DPSH).
Obstacles, barriers to implementation
The most difficult aspect during the implementation of the project’s activities was
overcoming bureaucratic issues and cash flow.
Lessons Learned
There should have been a greater effort to involve more relevant actors on gender
issues.
Benefit for the organisation
The Centre has developed educational and research material
(http://www.genderpanteion.gr/en/didaktiko.php), a library
(http://www.genderpanteion.gr/en/vivliothiki.php) and video library
(http://www.genderpanteion.gr/en/vinteothiki.php) on gender issues available to all
University students.
The Centre promotes collaboration between students and professors of Panteion
University and other Universities, and networking with other institutions and
organizations working on gender equality issues.
Sustainability of the initiative
Since 2008, the Centre is legally affiliated with the Department of Social Policy. The
University provides its premises to the Centre and fully covers its operational costs.
The research activity is funded through projects.
The Centre is co-ordinating 2 FP7 Research Projects: “Gender, Migration and
Intercultural Interactions in the Mediterranean and South East Europe: an
interdisciplinary perspective (GeMIC)” and “Transnational Digital Networks, Migration
and Gender (MIG@NET)”.
Transferability
Many Centres of gender studies existed in other European and American universities
before 2003.
There is communication with other Universities to transfer the methodology of this
initiative.
Systematic Approach
The activities of the Centre are largely communicated to the academic community of
Panteion and other Greek universities through the organization and participation in
lectures, conferences, networks and others scientific and social events.
The Centre has actively supported gender equality initiatives of governmental and
local agencies professional associations, women’s groups and NGOs.
The Centre promotes female participation in research teams including male
researchers.
Innovation
The innovative aspect of this initiative is the collection of print and electronic
documentation on gender topics, including a specialized book and video collection.
Monitoring / Evaluation
http://www.genderpanteion.gr/gr/2009pdf/apologismos.pdf
Summary: This initiative is good practice because...
The Project activities implemented exceeded those planned:
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Changes in the curricula of Departments of Panteion University
Organization of lectures, international conference, film festivals, seminar
series
Cataloguing, classification and digitalization of archives of women’s
movements
Participation in scientific publications
Participation and coordination of research projects. The Centre is currently coordinating 2 FP7 Research Projects.