Can Equality Plans Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal linked to Gender Equality in Higher Education and Research Performing Organisations?

Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate the content of Equality Plans (EPs) and assess whether institutions with EPs perform better on gender equality. A mixed-method approach was adopted by performing a content analysis of 45 EPs and conducting a survey using an online questionnaire on a sample of 48 public and private Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) institutions in Hungary. According to our findings, EPs in their present form are not sufficiently good tools to contribute to the deployment of the Sustainable Development Goal linked to Gender Equality (SDG #5). EPs, to be more powerful in their impacts, need to be embedded in complex organisational processes and infrastructures, including the commitment of top management to frame gender equality as a strategic priority. The novelty of the present research project is that it investigates the outcomes of EPs for RDI sector employers in Hungary.