Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI)

• Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) is an innovative Pilot Project launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). It ushers a novel intervention programme for promoting gender equity in science and technology.

• Project GATI was one of the three initiatives of DST announced on 28 February 2020, the National Science Day, by the Hon’ble President of India at a celebratory programme dedicated to Women in Science held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

• GATI aims to nudge institutions of higher education and research towards supporting diversity, inclusion and the full spectrum of talent for their own success and progression. In particular, it aspires to create an enabling environment for equal participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics (STEMM) disciplines at all levels, addressing deep-rooted problems.

• GATI draws inspiration from the Athena SWAN Gender Equality Charter and accreditation framework operated by Advance HE, UK since 2005. A growing number of universities, science departments and research institutes in UK have voluntarily joined the charter and been recognized for their accomplishments.

• Recognizing the framework’s evidence-based approach to analysis, action and demonstrable impact, several countries have been inspired to join the Athena SWAN collaborative international network and launch similar initiatives. With the launch of GATI, India joins the list.

• Though India has been exploring possibility to have a mechanism of recognizing those institutions who are gender sensitive. Coincidently during a trilateral workshop in 2016 it was discussed about the Athena SWAN concept, and its good results in terms of gender advancement in UK. Advance, HE is implementing agency of Athena SWAN in UK.

• In view of this it was suggested to explore if India can also develop a Gender Equity Framework for assessment and accreditation of institutions to the Indian context focusing on gender aspect.

• WISE-KIRAN has then conceptualized GATI in 2019. Therefore, GATI draws inspiration from Athena SWAN but will be completely different to the Indian context.

• DST is partnering with British council till March 2022 for sharing of experiences, processes, evolution and strategies related to Athena SWAN initiative with us and Pilot institutions, along with its knowledge partner, Advance HE, UK.

• GATI pilots a sustainable self-assessment and accreditation model. At the core of the model is the GATI Charter based on ten key principles. These principles explicitly acknowledge gender inequality and articulate a commitment towards overcoming systemic and cultural barriers to women’s academic and professional advancement at all levels.

GATI Key Principles

1. Role is to serve broad diversity of students, faculty, staff, stake holders.
2. Diversity enhances excellence and necessary for reaching full potential.
3. People of all genders/ identities equally capable of valuable contribution.
4. Importance of advancing gender equity in particular in STEMM.
5. Concerns about discouraging experiences, implicit and explicit bias.
6. Concerns about underrepresentation and rate of loss.
7. Institutional support for all facilitating professional contribution.
8. Strong leadership bringing systemic and cultural changes.
9. Creating nurturing environment removing barriers at each major level.
10. Positive impact policies for transformative changes, distinctive excellence.

Development and Implementation Linkages of GATI Project

Partnering Groups: GATI Pilot and Athena Swan Institutions

Workflow of GATI Project

Programmes under GATI:

1. Online Logo Designing Contest for DST-GATI Project.
2. International Women’s Day Celebrations with theme “Gender Equality today for Sustainable tomorrow”.