Final guidelines and recommendation on EDI

1 This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program for widening participation and spreading excellence under Grant Agreement number 101060145. Equality Diversity and Inclusion for Research Enhancement in Bosnia Herzegovina Project full title: Equality Diversity and Inclusion for Research Enhancement in Bosnia Herzegovina Project acronym: EDIRE Call: HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ACCESS-02 Type of action: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions Start date: 1 September 2022 End date: 31 October 2025 Project number: 101060145 Deliverable 2.3 Final guidelines and recommendation on EDI Work Package: WP2 Due Date: 30.09.2025 Submission Date: 30.09.2025 Lead Beneficiary: TU Dublin Version: 1.0 Status: Final Author(s): Sara Clavero Reviewed by: Jasminka Hasic Deliverable Type: R — Document, report Dissemination Level: PU-Public 2 This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program for widening participation and spreading excellence under Grant Agreement number 101060145. Version history Version Date Author(s) Comments 0.1 29.09.2025 Sara Clavero Full first draft 0.2 29.09.2025 Jasminka Hasić Telalović, Mirza Rastoder Review and Copy edits suggested 0.3 30.09.2025. Angela Celeste Taramasso, Carla Maria Reale Review 0.4 30.09.2025 Sofiane Mahi, Zahia Guessoum Review 0.5 30.09.2025 Olga Kolotouchkina Review 1.0 30.09.2025 Jasminka Hasić Telalović, Mirza Rastoder Final Deliverable abstract D2.3 outlines key findings and recommendations to support the implementation and sustainability of EDI policies in Bosnia & Herzegovina, the Western Balkans, and the EU. Copyright and legal notice The views expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of the European Commission. Neither the authors nor the EDIRE Consortium are responsible for the use which might be made of the information contained in here. Documents availability All documents mentioned in this deliverable are available at the project website www.edire.eu and the participants will be given access to it by the Project Coordinator. 3 This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program for widening participation and spreading excellence under Grant Agreement number 101060145. Glossary of abbreviations BiH: Bosnia & Herzegovina EDI: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion EIS: European Innovation Scoreboard ERA: European Research Area EU: European Union GEP: Gender Equality Plan NGO: Non-governmental organisation R&I: Research and Innovation SSST: Sarajevo School of Science and Technology WB: Western Balkans 4 This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program for widening participation and spreading excellence under Grant Agreement number 101060145. Table of contents 1. Presentation 5 2. Policy context 6 3. Summary of key issues emerging from the research 9 Work-Life Balance in Academia 10 Integration of Gender+ in Research 10 4. Policy implications 12 5. Recommendations 13 References 15 5 This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program for widening participation and spreading excellence under Grant Agreement number 101060145. 1. Presentation This Deliverable builds on the project's preliminary research findings (D2.1), initial guidelines and recommendations on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) developed through a structured consultation process (D2.2), and subsequent research conducted throughout the project. The latter focused on identifying key enablers and barriers to the implementation of EDI policies and practices within Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST) and, more broadly, across Bosnia & Herzegovina. It provides practical guidelines and strategic insights for national and international institutions to support the uptake and long-term sustainability of project outcomes. In addition, it offers targeted policy recommendations to advance and embed EDI approaches within the Western Balkans (WB) and the European Union (EU). 6 This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program for widening participation and spreading excellence under Grant Agreement number 101060145. 2. Policy context In his 2017 State of the Union address, President Jean-Claude Juncker underscored a strategic imperative for the EU: “There is a need to build research capacity and to better integrate the Western Balkan countries into the European Research Area (ERA) in order to accelerate their EU accession processes” (European Commission, 2017). This call to action reflected a broader vision of fostering scientific excellence, innovation, and institutional alignment across Europe. But nearly a decade later, how far have the Western Balkan countries progressed toward this goal, and what obstacles remain? Bridging the R&I Investment Gap One of the most persistent challenges lies in the disparity of national investment in research and innovation (R&I) between EU Member States and Candidate Countries. According to the latest figures, Western Balkan economies continue to allocate significantly less of their GDP to R&I activities, resulting in lower research intensity and innovation performance (Eurostat 2024). These gaps are clearly reflected in the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) 2024, which categorizes most Western Balkan countries as “Emerging Innovators,” with performance below 70% of the EU average (European Commission 2025). Similarly, the ERA Scoreboard 2024 highlights uneven progress across ERA priorities, particularly in areas such as research infrastructures, open science, and gender equality (European Commission 2024b) ERA Association: A Catalyst for Progress Despite these challenges, association with the ERA has proven to be a powerful vehicle for transformation. It has enabled Western Balkan countries to align their national R&I strategies with EU priorities, modernise legislation, and access cutting-edge scientific networks. Participation in EU Framework Programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe has steadily increased, with success rates in some cases matching or even exceeding the EU average (Policy Answers, 2024; SCiDEV 2025). This growing engagement signals a strengthening of institutional capacity and a deepening integration into the European R&I ecosystem. Horizon Europe’s WIDERA Programme: Targeted Support Under Horizon Europe’s WIDERA programme (2021–2025), four targeted calls were launched to support R&I development in the Western Balkans: • Teaming for Excellence – supporting institutional building through Centres of Excellence. • Support for R&I Policy Making – enhancing evidence-based policymaking in the region. • Excellence Hubs – fostering regional innovation ecosystems. • Twinning Western Balkans – promoting collaboration between Western Balkan and EU research institutions. Among these, the EDIRE project (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for Research Enhancement in Bosnia and Herzegovina) stands out. By placing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at its 7 This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program for widening participation and spreading excellence under Grant Agreement number 101060145. core, EDIRE aims to strengthen research excellence in Bosnia and Herzegovina while embedding inclusive gender equality principles into the R&I landscape. Inclusive Gender Equality: A Cornerstone of Research Excellence Since 2012, gender equality has been a strategic priority of the European Research Area (ERA), with the European Commission advancing three core objectives: (1) gender equality in research careers, (2) gender balance in decision-making, and (3) integration of the gender dimension in research and innovation content. These objectives aim to foster institutional change and promote inclusive excellence across European R&I systems. Evidence from Gender Action (Wroblewski, 2020), Burher et al. (2020), and Lee & Jung (2024) demonstrates a positive correlation between gender equality metrics—such as the Gender Equality Index—and indicators of research excellence and innovation performance. This reinforces the imperative to embed inclusive gender equality in efforts to build resilient and competitive R&I ecosystems. In line with these priorities, Horizon Europe has introduced a landmark requirement: since 2022, public bodies, research organizations, and higher education institutions from EU Member States and Associated Countries must have a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in place to be eligible for funding. These GEPs must meet a set of minimum standards, including formal commitment, dedicated resources, data collection and monitoring, training, and addressing key thematic areas such as work-life balance, leadership, and gender-based violence. This policy shift has elevated gender equality from a recommended practice to a structural prerequisite for participation in EU-funded research. Yet, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress in this domain remains underexplored. As a newly designated EU Candidate Country, BiH faces both opportunities and obligations in aligning with EU standards - including the Horizon Europe GEP requirement. While not yet mandatory for Candidate Countries, the expectation to develop and implement robust gender equality frameworks is increasingly shaping the landscape of R&I reform. The EDIRE project seeks to address this knowledge gap by examining how inclusive gender equality principles are being integrated into national efforts to boost research excellence and by identifying the barriers that persist. In doing so, EDIRE not only contributes to the advancement of ERA objectives but also supports BiH’s broader accession process by fostering institutional readiness and alignment with EU values. Knowledge Gaps and Network Isolation One reason for the limited understanding of gender equality in R&I within Candidate Countries is the focus of EU-funded research on Widening Countries—those already within the EU but with lower R&I performance. Candidate Countries, with the exception of Türkiye, have received comparatively little attention (Krzaklewska et al., 2023). Moreover, Western Balkan R&I institutions remain relatively disconnected from European gender equality networks (Burher et al, 2019), a structural isolation that exacerbates knowledge gaps and hinders institutional learning. 8 This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program for widening participation and spreading excellence under Grant Agreement number 101060145. Toward Inclusive Excellence While the ERA Scoreboard 2024 reports general progress across ERA priorities and growing interest among researchers in the region, systematic research on how EDI principles are being embedded in efforts to enhance research excellence remains patchy. This is precisely the gap that EDIRE set out to fill—by generating new insights, fostering institutional change, and promoting inclusive excellence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As BiH continues its journey toward full EU membership, embracing ERA principles (including gender equality and EDI) is not merely a requirement but a strategic opportunity. Building a resilient, inclusive, and innovative R&I system will be essential not only for accession, but for shaping a sustainable and competitive future within the European Union. 9 This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program for widening participation and spreading excellence under Grant Agreement number 101060145. 3. Summary of key issues emerging from the research Research conducted at SSST as part of the EDIRE project - including institutional data analysis, a survey, and two focus groups reveals that staff and students are broadly satisfied with the university’s work environment and its commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Positive aspects include a strong sense of collegiality, openness to new ideas, the benefits of teaching in English, and the diverse student body. SSST’s small size was seen as conducive to close student-staff connections and creative exchange. However, the research also identified persistent gendered inequalities and structural barriers: • Support gaps: Women reported less support from superiors and colleagues, especially regarding career advancement and caregiving needs. • Discrimination and reporting: Women experienced more unfair treatment and felt less comfortable reporting it. • Networking exclusion: Limited access to informal networks reinforced a maledominated culture. • Confidence and recognition: Women felt undervalued and perceived confidence as a greater barrier to career progression. • Bias in evaluation: Discrimination in task allocation, recruitment, and performance evaluation was reported exclusively by women. • Pay equity concerns: Perceived salary discrimination suggests potential gender pay gaps requiring further investigation. To validate and expand these findings, a national consultation meeting was held, bringing together 15 stakeholders from academia and research across BiH. The meeting introduced the EDIRE project, shared preliminary results, and explored their relevance to the broader national context. Participants discussed priority equality grounds, legal and data gaps, societal and institutional resistances, and proposed key recommendations for advancing EDI in research. Two critical issues emerged: • Limited access to research funding: SSST’s private status excludes its researchers from many public funding opportunities, hindering collaboration with public universities. Access to EU funding is also constrained by limited professional networks and insufficient support for conference participation. Discretionary funding for networking and publishing especially in costly open access journals - raises EDI concerns due to unequal access and opportunity. • Lack of gender-disaggregated data: While institutions report gender data on staff and students, there is a notable absence of such data in research funding processes. Available evidence suggests gender disparities in funding outcomes, yet public access to this data remains limited despite stated interest from funding bodies. Together, these findings underscore the need for systemic reforms to improve access to funding, enhance transparency through data collection, and embed EDI principles more deeply in research policy and practice across BiH.