Brussels, 30/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - More systematic work is needed to achieve sexual equality in research, as in other sectors in the European Union, pointed out the League of European Research Universities (LERU) in a press release on Wednesday 30 September. LERU president Kurt Deketelaere explained that LERU is calling on the Luxembourg Presidency to take tangible action to persuade the member states to develop, implement and monitor the progress of action plans for sexual equality in universities and other institution active in research.
LERU points out that not enough women embark on long-term careers in research, and very few reach the stage of management. Moreover, not enough university players and other research institutions are making the necessary structural and cultural changes to reverse this state of play. Despite calls for action at the level of the European Union for a change of mindset in the member states, little progress has been seen. LERU says this is why it is calling on the European Commission, the Council of Minsters and the European Parliament to seize the opportunity to take action now, under the Luxembourg Presidency, which has declared that sexual equality is one of the priorities for its research agenda. (Original version in French by Isabelle Lamberty)