The Importance of Equality Plans and Practices in Higher Education Institutions

Analysis of Equality Plans of Spanish Universities

Abstract

'Gender equality', 'equal opportunities' and all kinds of 'equality' between individuals are important issues that need to be improved for sustainable development. 'Equality Reports' have an important role in the development of equality practices. The practices of universities, which have direct and indirect impacts on social development through their education and research-development activities, are of key importance in this regard. This research aims to reveal the importance of equality practices in universities and provide a general framework on what universities can do in order to promote equality culture by examining Gender) Equality Plans (GEPs) of the top three Spanish universities, known for their high performance in this area. It is hoped that these findings will serve as a useful guide for other universities looking to implement or publish their own GEPs.