The Ukrainian Educational Research Association (UERA), together with Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, is implementing the project "When Science is a Woman" with the support of Dauphine University (France).
UERA is represented in the project by scholars from various regions of Ukraine: Tetiana Medina (Chernivtsi), Liudmyla Zahoruyko (Kyiv), Tetiana Lisova (Nizhyn), Svitlana Shchudlo (Drohobych), and Oksana Zabolotna (Uman).
One of the project's main goals is to conduct a comparative gender analysis of staff composition at the physics, mathematics, and computer science faculties in Poland (Adam Mickiewicz University) and Ukraine (Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University). The foundation of the project was laid by a decade-long statistical study conducted by the Ukrainian side at the Institute of Physical, Technical and Computer Sciences and the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at Chernivtsi University. The Polish side carried out a corresponding analysis at similar faculties at Adam Mickiewicz University.
The one-year project employs sociological methods such as document analysis, surveys, and in-depth interviews. Surveys will be conducted among all faculty members in the selected departments of both universities. The survey is designed to explore the unique aspects of women’s academic careers in STEM. Based on the survey results from male and female faculty, new hypotheses will be generated and further examined via in-depth interviews. The second phase will aim to identify career barriers and success factors for women and men in academia. These interviews will help to determine potential gender-specific patterns in scientific careers.
A significant component of the project focuses on disseminating research findings within the academic community. Plans include establishing Women’s Labs at both universities. Experience shows that projects culminating in recommendations for university leadership (rectors, deans, department heads) have a higher potential for implementation than purely academic studies. It is expected that these recommendations will contribute to the career advancement of women in academia, which is particularly important in Ukraine, where feminist initiatives remain underdeveloped.
Therefore, gender equality remains a highly relevant issue. We believe that highlighting and addressing these challenges through research projects can improve access to gender analysis and innovation for both men and women within and beyond academia. Sharing international best practices in gender-sensitive innovation and highlighting the negative effects of vertical gender segregation, especially in STEM, will support the advancement of women in Ukrainian universities. Additionally, establishing gender education hubs in universities across Ukraine is considered essential. These centers will serve as examples of positive gender innovation, not only for academic staff but also for students, parents, and university administrators.
information on the AMU website
The Project presentation in Chernivtsi University
Video about the Project results (Poznan)