Charles University wins the European EU Award for Gender Equality Champions!












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            Charles University has been recognised in the European competition EU Award for Gender Equ
            2026, joining the group of institutions praised by the European Commission for systematic,
            on gender equality and for improving conditions for both students and staff in academia. T

            that equal opportunities at Charles University are not merely a statement of intent, but a
            sustained and practically embedded part of our institutional culture.


            Email signature banner for 2026
            To mark this achievement, a dedicated email signature banner is available to showcase Char

            success in the EU Award for Gender Equality Champions. All Charles University employees ar
            it, both to share the university’s achievement externally and to help raise awareness of w
            meaningful institutional change matter in academic settings.

            You can easily add the banner using the university’s signature generator [ URL "https://cu
            UK-13723.html"] (select "Render Gender Equality banner").


            What is the EU Award for Gender Equality Champions?
            The EU Award for Gender Equality Champions is an initiative of the European Commission (DG
            and Innovation). Its purpose is to highlight and strengthen institutions that implement th

            effective Gender Equality Plans (GEPs)—strategies and concrete measures aimed at reducing 
            and removing barriers in research and higher education. The award supports several key obj
            reinforces the Horizon Europe requirement for research and higher education institutions t

            Equality Plan in place as an eligibility condition for certain types of funding. It encour
            change across the European Research Area (ERA), it contributes to the wider transformation
            universities under the new European strategy for universities and it helps build a communi

            institutions that motivate others and underline why equality and fair conditions in academ
            addressed systematically. The award is administered by the European Research Executive Age
            winners are selected by an independent expert jury in individual categories.


            Award categories
            The prize is awarded in three categories: Sustainable Gender Equality Champions - for inst

            long-term, demonstrable results and a high level of implementation of their GEP. Newcomer 
            Champions - for institutions that have recently completed implementation of their first GE
            the most significant progress. Inclusive Gender Equality Champions - for institutions with

            and inclusive GEP that, in addition to gender, considers intersections with at least two o
            categories (e.g., ethnicity, socio-economic background, sexual orientation and gender iden
            and delivers concrete outcomes.


            What this win means for Charles University
            This award is an important milestone for Charles University in several respects. First, it

            recognition that the university can improve study, work and research conditions in a syste
            sustained way at a level that meets the highest European standards. Second, the award stre
            Charles University’s credibility within the European Research Area. Gender Equality Plans 

            part of the Horizon Europe framework, and this success demonstrates that Charles Universit
            institutional change and equal opportunities seriously not only on paper, but in day-to-da
            Finally, it positions Charles University as an active member of a community of inspiring i

            encourage others to make equality and fair conditions a standard across academic and resea

            Thank you for being part of this journey with us.