The 6th EWORA (European Women Rectors Association) Conference “Responding to Evolving Challenges: Best Practices for Women Leadership in Academia” took place in Malmoe University, Sweden on 13-14 May 2019. It was attended by 80 persons, EWORA members and speakers. During the Conference the EWORA Honorary Award was offered to the Spanish Prime Minister Mr. Pedro Sanchez, represented by his ministry of Higher Education: the Spanish government has the highest women percentage among the ministers in Europe.
Women rectors at the head of universities presented their institution and the practical actions that they are realizing to promote gender equality for the students and the teaching and administrative staffs. Three parallel interactive sessions allowed very fruitful exchange of participants from various countries and experiences. They respectively dealt on “Is Academic .Leadership all about Implementing Neoliberalism? Can Women make the difference?”; “ How do leaders build their ownership of gender equality inside the university ?”; “Living Values Project: the Magna Charta Observatory”. A point was made on Research on Gender in Academia. The actions of EPWS to help women scientists at all stages of their careers were presented by EPWS President Claudine Hermann.
This conference was a great opportunity for women in decision making position, often alone in a masculine environment, to network with other women in similar situation, even if there are differences due to national history and culture. An impressive sense of common good was felt in all the speeches.
Claudine Hermann