Policy recommendations on the certification/award system

Public Deliverable 6.2.

Certification schemes and awards are frequently used tools to promote gender equality in a variety of domains. Under the CASPER project, three different scenarios have been set up through broad participatory processes for a Europe-wide GECAS (Gender Equality Certification/Award Scheme) specifically addressing research organisations and higher education institutions. The three scenarios are: 1) A brand-new Europe-wide scheme (EUQUAL); 2) The integration of the HRS4R (Human Resources Strategy for Researchers) award with a twin certification devoted to gender that would be called the GES4R (Gender Equality Strategy for Researchers) award; 3) The Europeanisation of the Athena SWAN scheme. In addition, a “No direct-action” scenario was also devised, where no Europe-wide scheme would be in place, but the European Commission would be incentivising and supporting the establishment of GECAS at the level of the Member States. The four scenarios have undergone a validation process entailing the consultation of relevant stakeholders through online questionnaires and connected interviews, as well as through a series of walkthrough tests at relevant European institutions.
The results of the validation activities, processed to highlight strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats of each scenario, have been discussed in two workshops within the CASPER consortium, including International Advisory Board members. The objective was to identify those policy measures that could realistically optimise the advantages and minimise the shortcomings of each scenario while maintaining their distinctive identity as alternative, credible policy options, each one presenting a specific trade-off profile. The connection with the Horizon Europe GEP requirement is also incorporated in many recommendations, aiming at harmonising the two policy tools (certification scheme and HE requirement).
The recommendations deriving from this process are presented in this document.