Yesterday, I led a seminar on ‘Gendering Research: Teams, Processes, Perspectives and Impact’, for researchers at the beautiful campus of Høgskulen in Vestlandet, Norway. We explored what it means to undertake gender-sensitive research. The back-drop is that the concept ‘gendering research’ has become vital in our universe of cut-throat competition for limited finances and doing research that is impactful. In almost all calls for proposals, gender is not only a prerequisite but it also is a ‘cross-cutting issue’.
The presentation/seminar aimed at unraveling the what, why and more importantly how gender can be integrated within research proposal writing, research processes and outcomes, in a way that gives it authenticity, efficacy and relevance to garner funding but also in solving today’s societal challenges. We were joined by Dr. Gilda Seddighi from the University of Bergen whose contributions surrounding the history of gender mainstreaming policy in research and gender as an analytical tool were invaluable.
The seminar explored historical, conceptual/philosophical approaches and methodological approaches to fostering gendering research. It is in harmony with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (nr. 5 on gender equality), but also Norwegian Research Council and H2020 principles on gender equality seen as fundamental components of Human Rights and Social Justice, among others.
The seminar focused on long, medium and short term requirements addressing vertical and horizontal structural and systematic approaches to bridging gender gaps in research anda society. So from exploring regulatory mandates to institutional/structural perrequisites, to building effective teams, to gendering research processes and perspectives, to gender budgeting, gender analysis to tackling resistance and finally a checklist for important indicators.
I am hopeful this workshop will contribute to raising awareness and skilling researchers with the aim of harnessing diversity, representation, inclusiveness and ultimately improving the scientific quality and impact of research across disciplines!
Workshop funded by Western Norway Research Institute in synergy with the NORDWIT’s Nordic Center of Excellence Project.
Carol Azungi Dralega
NORDWIT 
Thanks for sharing tthis
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