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| Country: | Israel |
| National Context: | Download |
| Region: | |
| Name of Organisation: | Council for the Advancement of Women in Science & Technology |
| Main implementing organisation: | Ministry of Science |
| Line of Business: | |
| Start Date: | 2000-01-01 |
| End Date: | Still Ongoing |
| All | Women | |
|---|---|---|
| Transferability of the initiative | Programme is considered to be transferable to another context |
| Type of initiative referring to strategic objectives | individual |
| structural | |
| awareness | |
| gender in research |
| Type of initiative, located on the stage of career progression of women scientists | Qualification (Higher Education) |
| Career entry | |
| Professional experience |
Short term objectives:
Long term objectives:
While socialization encourages young females to succeed academically, studying for a PhD often coincides with child bearing and financial stress of the young family.
• Researchers require extension of tenure track during childbearing years
• Public attitudes concerning the sex typing of professions in science and technology need to be exposed and counterbalanced.
• Stereotypes cause underrepresentation of females in certain scientific fields, and discourages choosing these fields as careers.
The Council was established by a decree of the Israeli parliament,and has operated stably since 2000, supported by the minister of Science.
In 2003 the Council published a directory of prominent Israeli female scientists, with their firlds of expertise and affiliations, and dissminated it to media, academia and governmental bodies to increase the visibility of these professional women.
The council has succeeded in changing laws concerning tenure of women at childbearng age, and securing scholarships for advanced degrees.
The initiative was launched in response to pressure of committed Israeli female scientists, and to comply with the demand of EC from states involved in its projects.
The higher education sector is committed to a policy of equal opportunities, although this is not always translated to specific measures to counterbalance barriers to women's choices and career plans.
Direct target groups:
Indirect target groups:
The Ministry of Science established the Council following a decision of the Israeli government in 2000, and in accordance with EC policy.
The council consists of persons appointed by relevant organizations involved in research, industry and women's status: chief scientists, preferably female, of government ministries; representatives of relevant bodies: the division of science and technology in the ministry of education; professional technological training of the ministry of employment; the committee of planning and budgeting; forum of female directors in industry; the military.
The council has an advisory board that includes members of the general public and of relevant organizations.
The council initiated several activities, involving ministries, institutes of higher education and research, the general public, the educational system and the media.
The Council secured scholarships for excellent female students studying scientific fields where women are underrepresented. Initially scholarships were offered to undergraduates and to graduates, but since 2004 they are offered only to PhD students.
2002 was declared the year of advancing women in science and academia and several events were held, including in the parliament together with the committee of science.
The ministry of science, together with the Council initiated a survey in 2003 to assess people's attitude to women in science
The Council succeeded in passing a regulation concerning the extension of tenure track for women who give birth in the process.
The Council, in cooperation with the Israeli academy of science, published a directory of 500 leading women researchers in 2003.
The council convinced the committee of heads of universities to establish a forum to advance women in research and science.
High profile academics, researchers and officials grant public visibility to the actions to promote women in science and technology.
The engagement of representatives of ministries, industries and institutes of higher education and research, by government decree, is a constant reminder of the commitment to equal opportunities demanded of these bodies.
Financing comes from the ministry of science, and budget cuts reduced the amount allocated for scholarships. In the beginning scholarships were offered more generously than at present.
The engagement of officials from ministries and national organizations (e.g. the Manufacturers Association of Israel) ensures direct access to influential individuals and decision-making bodies.
The combination of a group of appointed official representatives and an open advisory board, creates a valuable resource, widens the spectrum of expertise and increases access to varied populations.
The council serves the state in its commitment to equal opportunities, and draws together such individuals and the organizations they represent to a concentrated effort.
The continued existence of the council is guaranteed by law.
The council highlights a governmental commitment to equal opportunities in academia and employment, and a drive for equal opportunities for women in R&D.
The appointment of academics and representatives of the public sector to the council clarifies that gender balance is an objective.
The initiative addresses financial constraints of young female researchers and issues of work life balance of young female researchers who are at a stage in life where parenting is involved too.
The initiative addresses the need to grant greater visibility to women in science.
The innovation is in the passing of a law appointing an official council, to be headed by a committed female professor, who is accountable directly to the minister of science, and yet is independent in determining the goals and mode of action.
Yes, the council highlights a governmental commitment to equal opportunities in academia and employment, and a drive for equal opportinities for women in R&D.
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