New AGRIGEP Scientific Publication Highlights Gender Equality Barriers in Central European Agricultural and Life Sciences Universities

A new scientific publication was developed within AGRIGEP project, shedding light on gender equality barriers in agriculture and life sciences across universities in Central and Eastern Europe.

Title: Gender Equality Barriers in Agriculture and Life Sciences in Central European Universities
Authors: Veronika Paksi, Katalin Tardos, Judit Takács, Csilla Judit Suhajda, Jana Mazancová, Štefan Bojnec, Julianna Kobolák
Full text and free PDF download: https://doi.org/10.17645/si.10086

What is the study about?
While much attention has been paid to gender inequality in STEM fields, this study explores the often-overlooked barriers faced by women in the agriculture and life sciences fields, which are often seen as gender-balanced. Through nine focus groups involving 82 participants from Czech, Hungarian, and Slovenian universities, the research highlights how gendered obstacles persist across academia, particularly in recruitment, promotion, work–life balance, leadership, and fieldwork conditions.
Key findings include:

• Persistent gender stereotypes in education and career choices
• Structural barriers in recruitment and promotion practices
• Underrepresentation of women in leadership
• Additional gendered challenges tied to laboratory and fieldwork
• The need for context-sensitive, tailor-made Gender Equality Plans (GEPs)

This study not only contributes to academic debate but also provides practical recommendations for updating institutional GEPs and promoting more inclusive university environments.
This publication is part of the broader effort to support evidence-based policymaking and institutional reform under our project’s mission to advance gender equality in research and higher education.

Read and share the article: Paksi, V., Tardos, K., Takács, J., Suhajda, C., Mazancová, J., Bojnec, Š., & Kobolák, J. (2025). Gender Equality Barriers in Agriculture and Life Sciences in Central European Universities. Social Inclusion, 13, Article 10086. https://doi.org/10.17645/si.10086