The University of Malta (UM) and the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) recently hosted a mutual learning workshop on Gender in international cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation at the Valletta Campus. This workshop formed part of an EU H2020 funded project called GENDERACTION.

This project is being co-ordinated by Dr Marcela Linkova, from the Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague. The UM consortium includes Prof. Janet Mifsud, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Prof. Josanne Cutajar, Department of Gender Studies, Dr Brian Warrington, project officer and Ms Tania Aquilina, PSO. The MCST consortium partner include Dr Jennifer Cassingena Harper and Ms Jacqueline Grech.

GENDERACTION aims to map and analyse Members States’ progress towards implementation of gender equality in R&I through national ERA action plans and strategies; provide training events to build capacity in gender equality and provide mutual learning opportunities to maximize experience among stakeholders. It also aims to build new collaborations to advance gender equality in international cooperation in science, technology and innovation.

The aim of this workshop was to map the major gender-related concerns in STI in non-EU countries and regions with a view to developing recommendations for the European Commission and EU Member States. The participants included experts from Nigeria, Senegal, El Salvador, Turkey, Brazil, Jordan, Egypt, Kosovo and South Africa among others. The objectives of the workshop was to establish contacts and network on gender equality in STI globally, discuss examples of good practices and Identify barriers that hinder greater involvement of women researchers from third countries in international cooperation in STI.

In her opening speech, Prof. Carmen Sammut, Pro-Rector for Student and Staff Affairs and Outreach, University of Malta, described how the University of Malta is presently celebrating 100 years since the graduation of its first female graduate. She explained how the advancement of women in public life in Malta has been slow. Female graduates represent 60% of all students across the University.

Nonetheless, there are still challenges to engage women in STEMS, particularly in faculties such as engineering and ICT. Women’s history is an integral part of our national heritage and it is important to build a repository of items related to women. The University is working towards a gender issues audit with the use of inclusive language through CPD programmes.

In this closing speech, Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Executive Chairman of MCST, described how this subject has emerged as a growing priority for MCST in recent years. MCST has expanded internationalisation strategic partnerships, enhancing Malta’s attractiveness as an R&I destination, such as the setting up and implementation of PRIMA, as an important tool for advancing Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in STI. Gender can be used as an important vehicle for widening and deepening bilateral and multilateral cooperation with EU and non-EU countries.

In this regard, the equality portfolio tasked to the new Maltese EU Commissioner, Dr Helena Dalli, is noteworthy. Dr Pullicino Orlando acknowledged the notable work done by the University of Malta in this area and the support for third country students and researchers. The prominence given to the gender perspective in the University’s new Strategy will help to advance this further.

The meeting was also addressed by Prof. Louise Morley, Director of the Centre for Higher Education and Equity Research, University of Sussex and Professor Marie Therese Podesta Camilleri, Chair of the Gender Issues Committee at the University of Malta.

Further information on gender action can be found on www.genderaction.eu.