ABSTRACT
The introduction provides a general reflection on a Community of Practice (CoP) approach to institutional change for a greater gender equality in research and innovation (R&I) and higher education (HE) with a focus on policy and practice. First, we present the evidence regarding gender equality in R&I and HE in Europe, as well as briefly describe the policy framework. We then provide an account of setting up the eight CoPs that were supported through the ACT project, whose stories are told throughout this book. The next section provides a conceptual framework developed through an in-depth reading of the CoP literature focusing on three main concepts: the domain, focusing on knowledge and gender equality; the community, which reflects on CoPs in the neoliberal academy and, finally, practice, through an examination of institutional change and alliances. This provides the lens through which the various CoPs’ experiences are told before providing a comprehensive overview of the chapters.
