ABSTRACT
Universities are important in promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusion but, despite many positive changes, they remain deeply gendered institutions. The lack of gender parity at senior professorial and decision-making grades has adverse consequences for innovation, research and a negative impact on economic growth in the wider society. The pathway towards making institutions of higher education gender sensitive has a long and global history. The role of the European Commission has been central, as have innovations by institutions in different countries. This chapter examines the degree to which academia is gendered in core areas such as the engagement of decision-makers. Charting the evolution of EU initiatives and policies helps to contextualise gender equality policy and the growing requirement for institutional Gender Equality Plans.
