The Equality and Diversity Service participates in a new meeting of the international TOUCH project
The Equality and Diversity Service is part of the European TOUCH programme, an international initiative aimed at training the new generation of researchers in mental health and well-being, with a strong commitment to inclusion and diversity. The programme integrates a total of 24 doctoral students in an interdisciplinary environment, with a vocation for impact research and a clear orientation towards global collaboration.
Within the framework of the development of the project, the intermediate follow-up meeting was held on March 16, with the participation of all the partner entities. This meeting is a key space to make a detailed assessment of the state of execution of the project, share the results achieved so far and compare them with the objectives initially defined.
On the one hand, the contribution of the Service is articulated through the scientific coordination of the project, which falls to the Head of the Psychopedagogical Advice and Inclusion field and Head of Emotional Well-being of the Equality and Diversity Service, Sònia Sánchez. On the other hand, it also includes the incorporation of the figure of Gender & Diversity Manager, in charge of Maribel Ponferrada, a technician of the Service and responsible for guaranteeing the transversal integration of the gender and diversity perspective throughout the program. This function includes monitoring equality standards, monitoring key indicators and developing awareness-raising and training actions.
Likewise, the Service has advised the project in the selection processes of predoctoral research staff through the review of materials and the dissemination of calls to promote criteria of equity, inclusion and non-discrimination. Along these lines, a specific training action has also been carried out aimed at contracted research staff, with the aim of incorporating the gender and diversity dimension in their research projects, as well as providing tools to identify inequalities and learn about the institutional resources available.