Achieving gender equality within education and research institutions is not about bypassing existing legislation or creating preferential pathways, but about addressing the structural barriers that still place women at a disadvantage. With this in mind, Venice International University published its Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in 2022 and established a dedicated working group to guide its implementation and monitor progress. The Plan reflects a commitment to fostering real, substantive equality by identifying and removing obstacles across all areas of institutional life.
At the same time, the GEP forms part of a broader and evolving approach to inclusion. The working group has adopted a perspective that goes beyond binary understandings of gender, recognising that inequalities are often shaped by multiple, intersecting factors. By considering how different personal characteristics and identities influence individual experiences, the Plan aims to contribute to a more inclusive environment for the entire community. Developed through a participatory and reflective process, the GEP should be understood not as a final outcome, but as a starting point—one that sets out concrete actions across key areas such as work-life balance, leadership, recruitment, research, and the prevention of gender-based violence, while engaging staff, faculty, students, and all those involved in the life of the institution.
Download the VIU Gender Equality Plan
Contact: ilda.mannino@univiu.org
