The main objective of EQUATION was to foster structural and sustainable change in higher education by embedding gender equality into institutional practices and external quality assurance systems. Specifically, the project aimed to: (1) assess gender equality challenges in HEIs and accreditation bodies; (2) develop institutional Gender Equality Implementation Plans (GEPs) aligned with SDG5 and EU policies; (3) design gender-sensitive accreditation criteria; and (4) strengthen leadership capacity through training. EQUATION sought to improve gender equity in academic leadership and create practical, evidence-based tools for institutions and accrediting bodies. Additionally, it aimed to build a transnational community of practice that would promote peer learning and ensure the scalability of results beyond the consortium.
The EQUATION project was developed in response to persistent gender inequalities within higher education, especially in management and business schools. Despite progress in some areas, systemic barriers—such as underrepresentation in leadership, gender-insensitive accreditation standards, and fragmented gender equality implementation—persisted across Europe. Partner institutions observed a lack of structured mechanisms to assess and improve gender equity in governance and accreditation processes. Furthermore, growing regulatory pressures demanded institution-wide responses. The consortium, composed of CEEMAN, IEDC, RTU, VU, and WSB, recognized the need for coordinated, evidence-based, and scalable solutions to address these challenges. EQUATION was therefore launched to advance gender equality by transforming institutional practices, developing new accreditation guidelines, and embedding gender perspectives into strategic governance of HEIs.