Scientific Excellence and Equality at University : Experiencing the RESET Project

Abstract

Based on the EU-funded project RESET (Redesigning Equality and Scientific Excellence Together) and written by members of seven European partner universities representing different disciplines, this book combines theory and practice to discuss and reflect on the concept of scientific excellence within higher education. It considers the pitfalls and the need to revisit an understanding of inclusivity by asking how scientific excellence and professional equality can be made compatible in practice. Split into three key sections, the first part of the book is devoted to the question of scientific excellence in relation to existing gender inequalities within universities. It includes a discussion on the objectivity of scientific excellence based on feminist literature devoted to the reproduction of inequalities in universities and data collected during the RESET project. The second part is dedicated to the actions taken to achieve more inclusive excellence and the third part finishes by focussing on training on gender and diversity issues and the resistance that such workshops generate. The book offers a comprehensive guide to fostering an academic culture that aligns scientific excellence with equality, diversity, and inclusion, providing researchers and decision-makers alike with practical tools for achieving inclusive excellence within European universities, while at the same time knowing how to deal with difficulties and resistance. This book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.