The Norwegian Research Council has joined the Code of Best Practices for Women and ICT and has played an active role in the first European Gender Summit.

Director Arvid Hallén invites you hereby to join this blog and your organization to support integrating the Gender Perspective in the Entire Research Portfolio!

It has aroused considerable attention both nationally and internationally that the Norwegian Research Council has decided that the ongoing gender research program will not be replaced with a new one when the five-year period expires next year. It's a shame that this has created unfortunate misconceptions about what this is about. While the specific research program will not be extended beyond the approved program period, integration of the gender dimension into research will be in Norway implemented in the future through other means and measures.

In  Norway gender research is well established as a separate field of research. Research has contributed to this through including 11 million NOK annually in the ongoing gender research program. Over a period of 17 years the Council has contributed to gender research in Norway through a special program for Research. Centers and research institutions for gender have been established throughout the country, and the leading researchers are highly competitive in various applications of the Council and in the open arena.

The Research Council's policy on equality and gender perspectives in the research states that it is important to allow for projects with a gender perspective throughout the Research Council's entire program and all its tool. Now, the Research Council put even more emphasis in all its efforts to integrate the gender perspective in all its instruments. It is already mandatory that the relevance of gender perspectives should be considered in efforts to design curricula for all Research Council program initiatives. In the future equality and gender perspectives must be considered in all project applications applying for funding.

The Norwegian Research Council's policy on equality and gender perspectives in the research finds that gender is a central organizing principle of society. The gender perspective is of great interest both in the humanities, social science and medical research. But for many scientists, it is unclear whether and how gender perspectives are relevant in different fields. There are varying expertise in the field, and the relevance of gender perspectives are still not as widely known in all disciplines.

The funds that are released when the current gender studies program ends, will be partly channeled to the Research Council's new program social development of cultural assumptions (SAMKUL). This important strategic initiative will ask program-relevant research on gender in upcoming announcements. At the same time, the Research Council has proposed a new initiative aimed at gender equality in recruitment to senior posts in academia - Gender balance in senior positions and research management, the so-called Balance program. It has already started a pilot project and in 2013 the program will be started with funds reallocated within the budget of the Council already has. If the budget proposal being implemented, it could have significant activity. A part of this program is on a better knowledge base.

A clearer and more effective monitoring of equality and gender perspective, the policy will require a greater awareness and increased competence in the Research Council administration. Initially, we will analyze the extent of gender perspectives in the research council funding and see how this breaks down the field, programs and other means. This will be an important knowledge base for future work on gender perspectives in the research.

Welcome to join this blog and add your comments and share your experiences!