Implementation and development of IPVC's equality plan in association with its management system

Abstract

Purpose (Mandatory) - In the scope of the Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo (IPVC) Strategic Plan 2020-2024 and its Social Responsibility strategy, was developed a project, IPVConcilia Project, aiming to invest in conditions that promote equality, inclusion, well-being, and conciliation of professional life with family and personal life its staff. The project gained a competitive funding to work on promotion of the involvement, commitment, and motivation for an active participation in the co-creation of value for an IPVC. The institution defined as a goal, to develop an increasingly sustainable and inclusive organization where people wanted and liked to work. Design/methodology/approach (Mandatory) - IPVC developed specific training in the topic and a team to organize and implement a strategic management tool, a gender equality plan. This plan was aligned with the IPVC Code of Ethical Conduct, the Values and Management Policies and it considers the guidelines issued by the national and international bodies, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Agenda 2030, in particular SDG 5-Gender Equality, SDG 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 10-Reducing Inequalities; the National Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination 2018-2030 Portugal + Equal (ENIND) established by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 61/2018, of May 21, the Project Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions, the GEAR program - Gender for Equality in Academia and Research of the European Institute for Gender Quality and the guidelines of the Directorate General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission and its strategic plan 2020-2024 which sets goals with a view to international competitiveness for higher education institutions, particularly at the level of equality and non-discrimination; the Guide for the Elaboration of Plans for Equality, of the ISCED (2019). IPVC´s equality plan was developed and its processes associated with goals for organizational excellence and organizational improvement will be presented in this paper. The plan integrates strategic aims and operational objectives, actions, indicators, targets and timetable. Findings (Mandatory) - At this moment the equality plan is being integrated in IPVC´s management system and this work will also be presented in this paper. We will present results from diagnosis and process implementation as well as future reflections on the future of Quality and Organizational Excellence based in equality and its inputs for quality management. Social implications- The case study has clear social implications on IPVC community. Originality/value (Mandatory)- This case study is very relevant, presenting an example of one of the first gender equality plans to be developed in higher education institutions, responding directly to the recommendations of the European Comission and Portuguese National Governmental Entities.