On June 19, on the heels of the 10th national day of equality and diversity missions in higher education and research, the following events were held 32nd CPED meeting at the University of Angers. Some seventy project managers and vice-presidents attended.
The day opened with thegeneral meeting of CPED, where the activity report, presented by Véronique Van De Bor, President of CPED, Clémence Abry-Durand, CPED Board member and Justine Azoze, VSS-Formation Project Manager, and the financial report, presented by our accounting agency, Socomex, were voted.
A NEWS FLASH Lucille Marissal, projects and communications assistant, presented the second wave of the REMEDE survey, carried out in partnership with ONDES, as well as the association's partnerships and future projects. Hermeline Pernoud, member of the CPED Board of Directors, presented CPED's current working group on "Parentalities". Pascal Tisserant, deputy treasurer of CPED, presented the activities of REFEDI (Réseau international francophone de l'enseignement supérieur et de la recherche pour l'EDI). Lastly, Véronique Van De Bor reported on the results of the questionnaire on rectorate posts.
Dorothée Guérin, Vice-Chairwoman for Gender Equality and the Fight against SGBV at the Université de Bretagne Occidentale, reports on the CPED thesis prize 2024presented the winner, Laura Verquerea post-doctoral fellow at CARISM (Université Panthéon-Assas). Laura Verquere presented her thesis in information and communication sciences, entitled "The fabrications of the public problem of paternity leave through a gender lens. Pour une pluralisation des modes d'être scientifique."
Her thesis shows how discourses on so-called "paternity leave" reproduce relations of gender and domination. Her fieldwork enabled her to observe a dichotomy between mothers who express themselves in intimate accounts (often about complicated post-partum or violence), which remain mainly in private groups; in opposition to fathers who describe themselves as "committed" and benefit from high visibility, particularly in the media (they will highlight the joys of being or discovering themselves as fathers, they are presented as heroic).
This innovative thesis led to a number of discussions and ideas on the introduction of leave in higher education and research establishments. The call for judges for the CPED 2025 Thesis Prize was then launched.
A round tableco-hosted by Lucille Marissal and Claire Lambard, Equality Coordinator at ENS Paris-Saclay and secretary of CPED, interviewed work-life balanceby asking which actions and measures and women's health, and what links can be forged with other university departments?
Audrey Lavenu, in charge of quality of life at work at the University of Rennes, presented L'Aparté, a place for parenting support, exchange and breastfeeding within the University, as well as their partnership with a local association to reserve cribs for staff.
Antonin Richard, in charge of Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Ecological Transition at the Université de Picardie Jules Verne, shared the organization of a solidarity Christmas for parent-students, the existence of the Maison Nina and Simone on one of their campuses, offering a monthly café on parenting, as well as themed workshops for students once a month with the Family Planning organization.
Kayleigh O'Sullivan, in charge of the Equality Mission, and Océane Gudefin Legrand, Coordinator of the VDH and PAE Follow-up Unit at the University of Angers, concluded with some examples of work-life balance measures. For example, it is possible for BIATSS staff to adapt their working hours to 100% over 5 days, and also to take leave hour by hour. A family leave scheme has also been set up, covering a range of situations.
A Agora "A plea for the structuring of equality-diversity missions"Clémence Abry-Durand, Gender Equality Project Manager at INSA Lyon, and Maëva Ballon, Project Manager - Equality Mission at Université Gustave Eiffel.
This time of collective reflection provided an opportunity to exchange views on the obstacles, difficulties and concerns encountered by equal opportunity officers and VPs, as well as on best practices and levers to be mobilized, so that CPED can formulate recommendations to the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
We discussed the scope of equality-diversity missions, political support, and employment and working conditions.
Last but not least group workshops have identified the main issues and avenues of work on the following subjects:
- Linking equality, anti-discrimination and VSS issues with DDRS plans;
- The link between equality-diversity policy and international relations ;
- Taking into account the intersectional nature of violence in cell communication, prevention and treatment of situations ;
- Institutional strategies and structuring to protect policies, agents and EDI funding.
A beautiful sunny day, rich in perspectives and reflections for the members of CPED, led by Lucille Marissal, Projects and Communications Assistant at CPED. And a big thank you to everyone involved in organizing the day!