Equality, diversity and equity plans in Europe. Approach to the map of the League of European Research Universities LERU

Abstract

This article analyzes equality plans at universities that are members of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), with particular attention to European and Spanish regulatory frameworks. It examines how the 24 universities in the LERU network implement institutional policies to address historical gender inequalities, through an analysis of their equality plans and anti-harassment protocols.

The study is contextualized within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable   Development Goal 5, the European Strategy for Gender Equality 2020-2025, and, in the  Spanish case, the Organic Law of the University System (LOSU, 2023) and Royal Decree 901/2020. The role of the European Research Council (ERC) and its Gender Equality Plan 2021-2027, which establishes mandatory requirements for institutions receiving European funding, is also analyzed.

Using a qualitative methodology of document analysis, institutional protocols are examined, identifying common elements such as mandatory training in harassment prevention, confidential reporting channels, psychological and legal support services, and follow-up mechanisms. Intersectional approaches that consider multiple dimensions of identity (gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability) and the integration of a gender perspective into teaching, research, and university governance are highlighted.

The results show significant progress, but also persistent challenges: the gender pay gap reaches 12.7% in Europe and 8.9% in Spain; women represent only 34% of management positions in the EU and 38% in Spain; and female underrepresentation persists in STEM fields (29% in engineering and technology). The study concludes that a holistic and systemic approach is required to transform university structures toward genuine equality, beyond mere formal compliance with regulatory requirements.