Towards gender equality in research and academia: conceptualising and practising inclusive mentorship through community building, co-creation and art-based methods

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dc.contributor.authorThomson, Aleksandra
dc.contributor.authorLópez Belloso, María
dc.contributor.authorWarat, Marta
dc.contributor.authorDamala, Areti
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-27T10:09:13Z
dc.date.available2026-07-27T10:09:13Z
dc.date.issued2025-10-03
dc.date.updated2026-07-27T10:09:13Z
dc.description.abstractPurpose – This paper explores inclusive mentoring as a transformative tool for promoting gender equality in European academia and research. It reflects on the work of COST Action VOICES, which addresses systemic barriers and inequalities disproportionately affecting women and marginalised groups. The paper critically examines mentorship programmes, highlighting power imbalances, intersectionality and the role of participatory, co-creative and art-based approaches in reshaping mentoring practices. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on collaborative initiatives led by VOICES, the paper presents findings from an exploratory mentoring mapping exercise. Additionally, it reflects on the inclusive mentoring summer training held in Bilbao in 2024. Art-based methods and participatory co-creation workshops were employed to capture lived experiences of mentors and mentees, resulting in the development of ten guiding principles for inclusive mentoring. Findings – The paper reveals significant inconsistencies in the availability, sustainability and evaluation of mentoring programmes across Europe. It identifies key challenges, including unequal access, lack of intersectional approaches and limited institutional support. Despite these barriers, inclusive mentoring models emphasising reciprocity and reverse mentoring show promise in enabling resilience, psychological safety and systemic change. The co-creation of guiding principles reflects a collective vision for mentoring as a tool for empowerment and solidarity. Originality/value – This paper offers a novel contribution by integrating intersectional feminist approaches with art-based and participatory methods to redefine mentoring. It underscores the necessity of nurturing mentoring frameworks as dynamic ecosystems, requiring continuous care and collaboration to sustain progress in equality, diversity and inclusion.en
dc.description.sponsorshipThis project was funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology - COST Action VOICES, CA20137en
dc.identifier.citationThomson, A., López Belloso, M., Warat, M., & Damala, A. (2025). Towards gender equality in research and academia: conceptualising and practising inclusive mentorship through community building, co-creation and art-based methods. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-12-2024-0619
dc.identifier.doi10.1108/EDI-12-2024-0619
dc.identifier.eissn2040-7157
dc.identifier.issn2040-7149
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14454/6430
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherEmerald Publishing
dc.rights© Aleksandra Thomson, María López Belloso, Marta Warat and Areti Damala. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited
dc.subject.otherCo-creation
dc.subject.otherCritical
dc.subject.otherGender equality
dc.subject.otherInstitutional change
dc.subject.otherIntersectionality
dc.subject.otherMentoring
dc.subject.otherMixed methodologies
dc.titleTowards gender equality in research and academia: conceptualising and practising inclusive mentorship through community building, co-creation and art-based methodsen
dc.typejournal article
dcterms.accessRightsopen access
oaire.citation.endPage18
oaire.citation.startPage1
oaire.citation.titleEquality, Diversity and Inclusion
oaire.licenseConditionhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
oaire.versionVoR
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