Representatives from the University of Iceland visited the University of Coimbra earlier this September to take part in a conference under the auspices of the Gender@UC project. The visit is part of the university collaboration in the field of gender equality funded by the EEA Reconstruction Fund. The fund's primary goal is to contribute to a more equal Europe; socially and economically.
The university in Coimbra has approved their first Equality Action Plan. There is significant emphasis is placed on strengthening gender equality within the university; especially relating to scientific access and academic promotion. The conference Gender@UC was part of this process and organised in collaboration with the Portuguese authorities, research funds and institutes. This extensive participation underlines the importance of this issue at the Unviersity of Coimbra.
"The University of Iceland's role is to support this work by counselling on the implementation of the Equality Action Plan and contributing to other factors in the process. The collaboration lasts until the end of 2023 and representatives from Portugal will visit Iceland next year to learn about equality work at the University of Iceland," says Þorgerður Einarsdóttir, professor of gender studies, who leads this project on behalf of UI. Finnborg Salome Steinþórsdóttir, post-doc and specialist in gendered finances, and Arnar Gíslason, equality officer at the University of Iceland also attended the conference.