GEMMA: Erasmus Mundus Masters Degree in Womens and Gender Studies

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GEMMA Erasmus Mundus Masters Degree in Womens
and Gender Studies

• Prof. Adelina Sánchez Espinosa
• GEMMA Scientific Coordinator
• University of Granada
• Adelina_at_ugr.es

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INTRODUCTION Background Womens Studies at
the University of Granada

• Women and Gender Studies have become consolidated
  in Spain within the last 20 years.
• The creation of groups and lines of research on
  gender from multifarious perspectives within
  universities has contributed to this.
• In some cases, such as Granada, these groups and
  lines get together to form a University Institute

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Institute for Women's Studies University of
Granada Spain
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NETWORKING Collaboration with other institutions
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NATIONAL NETWORKS

• Close collaboration and joint actions/projects
  with local, autonomic and national Institutions
• Essential for the financing of activities
• Joint efforts fighting for new degree in Womens
  Studies at National level (within the new
  catalogue of ESHE degrees)

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• Local institutions Councillor for Womens
  equality
• Andalusian Institutions
• Consejería de Igualdad (Andalusian Ministry for
  Equal opportunities)
• Instituto Andaluz de la Mujer.
• Andalusian University Centres. Coordination
• to implement an Andalusian Doctorate's Degree on
  Women's Studies
• to foster a field for Gender and Women's Studies
  in the Andalusian Research Plan.
• National Institutions
• Area for Equality at Diputación (Members of
  Parliament for Granada)
• Ministry of Social Affairs Womens Institute
• Women and Science Unit (Ministry of Education)

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INTERNATIONAL NETWORKING
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Bilateral exchangesSOCRATES-ERASMUS student and
academic staff mobility

• University of Tolouse-Le Mirail
• University of Helsinki (Christina Institute)
• University of Hull
• University of York
• University of Lodz (Womens Centre)
• Federico II University Naples
• University of Bergen
• In preparation University of Bologna, ISH
  Ljubliana, Central European University,University
  of Utrecht

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Specific Bilateral agreements with

• Comahue (Argentina)
• Luján (Argentina)
• Salvador de Bahía (Brasil)
• La Habana (Cuba)
• Florida (USA)
• In preparation Women across cultures
  consortium (Cape Town, Bogotá,Florida, Luján)

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European cooperation and the new ESHE challenges

• AOIFE -Association of Institutions for Feminist
  Education and Research in Europe.
• ATHENA III
• Coordination of GEMMA consortium and Erasmus
  Mundus Masters degree

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• What is AOIFE?
• AOIFE Asociation of Institutions for Feminist
  Education and Research in Europe.
• A European association for Womens Studies based
  on institutional membership (around 85 members,
  25 countries)
• Links institutions dedicated to initiating and
  supporting feminist education and research
• A forum for collectively addressing and acting on
  issues concerning Womens Studies by means of
  cooperation and networking.

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Athena Socrates Thematic Network . 100
institutions Athena III to 2009
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GEMMA Erasmus Mundus Masters Degree in
Womens and Gender Studies Consortium University
of Granada (coordinator) University of Bologna
Central European University of
Budapest University of Hull ISH
Ljubljana University of Lodz University of
Oviedo University of Utrecht
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The project, the experienceConstructing a
joint European Masters in Womens and Gender
Studies.

• How we made it By asking lots of questions,
  making informed choices andtaking risks
• First stage informed choices
• The consortium
• 2. The curriculum

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• The consortium
• Large consortium
• Weaknesses coordination, amount of grants per
  partner
• Strengths European dimension (North, South and
  Central. Old and new members of EU)
• Ratio 1/1 teacher/student
• Previous cooperation
• Thematic networks (TN ATHENA, ACUME)
• 5th/6th framework research ( Marie Curie
  Gendergraduates, Research Methods in the Social
  Sciences and Humanities, Employment and Womens
  Studies)
• European associations (AOIFE)
• Largely representative of European feminism
• WS Gender studies play a major role at all
  consortium institutions
• Institutionalised MA/PhD programmes at all
  institutions

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• 2. The curriculum
• Interdisciplinarity Social Sciences and
  Humanities
• Duration 120 ECTS (fitting most partners)
• All institutions teach whole programme (120 ECTS)
• Core modules main issues of European feminism
• Complementary offer for optional modules
• Based on excellence of each institution
  involved.
• Work placement and Summer Schools included
  within options.
• A la càrte menu attractiveness

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ERASMUS MUNDUS Master Womens and Gender Studies
(GEMMA) Length 4 semesters, 2 years full-time
(2007-2009) ECTS 120 (30 per
semester) GENERAL STRUCTURE

First Semester (Autumn / Winter 2007 -2008)
Core Cluster 30 ECTS (Same at all institutions)
Cluster A 30 ECTS (Specific to each institution)
Second Semester (Winter/ Spring 2008)
Cluster B (Mobility Cluster) 30 ECTS (to be
taken at partner university) Optional courses
(Including practical training and intensive
summer schools. Specific to each institution)
Third Semester (Autumn / Winter 2008 - 2009)
Fourth Semester (Winter / Spring 2009)
Master Thesis 30 ECTS Either at host or partner
institution
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• WOMENS MOVEMENTS WORLDWIDE (5 ECTS)
• FEMINIST HISTORIOGRAPHY (5 ECTS)

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• University of Granada (Coordinating institution)
  All these courses are taught in Spanish
• Gender, the Body and Women Health Practices and
  Scientific Discourses (16th 20th century) (5
  ECTS)
• Representations of Gender, Relationships and
  Sexuality in a Local-global Context (5 ECTS)
• Gender, Class and Race in Colonial America (5
  ECTS)
• Womens Education in Contemporary Spain (5 ECTS)
• Psychology and Ecofeminism related to needs and
  values (5 ECTS)
• The Construction of Gender in Discourse (5 ECTS)
• Feminist Perspectives in Discourse Analysis
  Re-reading of Literary Texts and Didactic
  Applications (5 ECTS)
• Womens Political Representation and Parity
  Democracy (5 ECTS)
• Practical work at equal opportunities
  institutions (10 ects)
• University of Bologna All these courses are
  taught in English and Italian
• Italian Womens Literature (6 ECTS)
• English Womens Literature (6 ECTS)
• German Womens Literature (6 ECTS)

Cluster A 30 ECTS
Second Semester
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Cluster A 30 ECTS
Cluster A 30 ECTS
Second Semester

• University of Hull All these courses are taught
  in English
• Gender Theory Workshop 2 (10 ECTS)
• Gender Issues in Development 2 (10 ECTS)
• Independent Learning Journal (10 ECTS)
• Other(ed) Bodies Anthropology of Gender and
  Sexual Diversity (10 ECTS)
• Sociology of the Family (10 ECTS)
• Gender, Ethnicity and Crime (10 ECTS)
• Contemporary Womens Writing (10 ECTS)
• Sex and Gender (10 ECTS)
• Ethnographic Practice (10 ECTS)
• The Research Interview (10 ECTS)
• University of Lodz All these courses are taught
  in English
• Human Rights and Gender (5 ECTS)
• Gender and Welfare State International
  Perspective (5 ECTS)
• Postcolonial and Postcommunist Approaches to
  Gender in Politics and Culture (5 ECTS)
• Race, Class and Gender vs. the Politics of
  Globalization (5 ECTS)

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Cluster A 30 ECTS
Cluster A 30 ECTS
Second Semester

• University of Oviedo All these courses are
  taught in Spanish. There will be partial use of
  English
• Cultural Diversity, Diaspora and Feminism (6
  ECTS)
• Literature, National Identity and Gender (6 ECTS)
• Gender, Theory and Practice in Films and the
  Visual Arts (6 ECTS)
• Equal Opportunities Policies for Citizenship and
  Employment (6 ECTS)
• Gender Violence Psychological and Social
  Analysis (6 ECTS)
• University of Utrecht All these courses are
  taught in English
• Politics of Representation Gender and
  Ethnicity in Contemporary Cultural Practice (7.5
  ECTS).
• Womens Representations of Eros and Pathos (7.5
  ECTS).
• The Linguistic Turn and Beyond (7.5 ECTS).
• Body Zones Contested Zones of Body Politics in
  the Visual Cultures of Science, Feminist Thoughts
  and Popular Media (7.5 ECTS)
• Tutorials on specific expertise Braidotti,
  Buikema, Waaldijk, Wekker (7,5 ECTS)
• Issues in postcoloniality cinema and new media,
  literature and culture (7,5 ECTS)
• Gender, Trauma and Memory (7,5 ECTS)
• Body course in feminist theory and practice (7,5
  ECTS)
• General introductory course in Women's Studies
  (7,5 ECTS)

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Third Semester
Cluster B (Mobility) 30 ECTS

• Granada (Coordinating Institution) Courses
  taught either in Spanish or English (as
  indicated bellow)
• Medicalization and Discomfort. Women Using
  Psychoactive Substances (5 ECTS) (Spanish)
• Gender, Culture and Development African and
  Diasporic Feminisms (5 ECTS) (English)
• Ethnic Minorities and Gender Relationships in
  Social History and Anthropology (5 ECTS)
  (English)
• Gender and Archeology (5 ECTS) (English)
• Gender and Equal Opportunities in Education
  Feminist Politics for an Equal Education.
  Knowledge practices and discourses on Women
  Education in History (5 ECTS) (Spanish)
• Documental Bibliographic Resources for Womens
  Studies (5 ECTS) (Spanish)
• Gender, Art and Literature The Representation of
  Women in Literary and Visual Discourse (5 ECTS)
  (English)
• Gender and Peace (5 ECTS) (Spanish)
• Mediterranean summer course in women and gender
  studies (10 ECTS) (Spanish and English)
• Practical work at equal opportunities
  institutions (10 ECTS) (Spanish)
• University of Bologna All these courses are
  taught in English and Italian
• Women Painters in Western History of Arts (6
  ECTS)
• Women and Law (6 ECTS)
• The Revision of the Body in Women Literature (6
  ECTS)
• Women Travel Literature (6 ECTS)
• Critical Utopias (6 ECTS)
• Woman and Social Sciences (6 ECTS)
• Women and Science (6 ECTS)

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Third Semester
Cluster B (Mobility) 30 ECTS

• University of Hull All these courses are taught
  in English
• Independent Learning Journal (10 ECTS)
• Research Methods in the Humanities (10 ECTS)
• Women and Mental Health (10 ECTS)
• Feminism, Poststructuralism, Psychoanalysis (10
  ECTS)
• Race, Ethnicity, Gender (10 ECTS)
• Gender and Genre (10 ECTS)
• University of Lodz All these courses are taught
  in English
• Reproductive Psychology (5 ECTS)
• La Frontera and the New Mestiza Consciousness
  Race, Ethnicity and Gender at the EU Mexican
  Border (5 ECTS)
• Introduction to Gender in Postmodern Culture (5
  ECTS)
• Feminist Epistemologies (5 ECTS)
• Gender Representations in Polish Advertising (5
  ECTS)
• Intersections of Class Gender and Ethnicity in
  Globalised Era (5 ECTS)
• The Body in the Feminist Theory and Practice (5
  ECTS)
• Ljubljana (ISH) All these courses are taught in
  English

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Third Semester
Cluster B (Mobility) 30 ECTS

• University of Oviedo Option 1 courses will be
  taught in English. Option 2 courses will be
  taught in Spanish
• Option 1 Contemporary Textual and Cultural
  Studies.
• Cultural Diversity, Diaspora and Feminism (6
  ECTS)
• Postcolonialism, Globalization and Representation
  of Women (6 ECTS)
• Literature, (post) nation and Gender Women
  Writers in English and Spanish (6 ECTS)
• Gender, Theory and Practice in Films and the
  Visual Arts (6 ECTS)
• Women in Contemporary European Texts Research
  Seminar and Comparative Perspectives (6 ECTS)
• Option 2 Sociology and Equal Opportunities
• Gender Sociology and Methodology (6 ECTS)
• Equal Opportunities Policies for Citizenship and
  Employment (6 ECTS)
• Gender Violence Psychological and Social
  Analysis (6 ECTS)
• Equal Opportunities in Labour Relations (6 ECTS)
• Labour Practices (6 ECTS)
• Utrecht All these courses are taught in English
• Researching Gender and Ethnicity Theory and
  Methodology in Womens Studies Research (7,5
  ECTS)
• Technobodies in Cyberspace (7,5 ECTS)
• Theories of Sex/Gender (7,5 ECTS)
• Gender Approaches to Literary Theory (7,5 ECTS)

Fourth Semester Master Thesis 30 ECTS
Fourth Semester Master Thesis 30 ECTS
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• Final stage the almost impossible daily threats
• National legislation Type of Degrees (Double?
  Multiple? Joint?)
• Regional legislation Official degree recognition
• Local legislation University regulations
  clashing with peculiarities of interuniversity
  network cooperation
• Opening new ground
• 8 different levels of formalities and red tape
  (records, further contracts, interpretation of
  Rectors letters)
• 8 different fee traditions and new official fees

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• How much information shall I include? The more
  the merrier!!!
• LIST OF ANNEXES
• LETTERS OF COMMITMENT AND OFFICIAL RECOGNITION
• DESCRIPTION OF GEMMA CURRICULUM
• GEMMA CONSORTIUM DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT
• CVS OF GEMMA COORDINATORS AND CORE TEACHERS. LIST
  OF OTHER GEMMA TEACHERS
• STUDENT WELCOME GUIDES
• CONSORTIUM WOMENS STUDIES CENTERS AND WS
  STUDIES AND GENDER POSTGRADUATE COURSES
• GEMMA CONSORTIUM COLLABORATION MEETINGS, PRESS
  REPORTS AND IMAGES
• MOST SIGNIFICANT INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OF
  CONSORTIUM MEMBERS
• CONSORTIUM MEMBERS PARTICIPATION IN EUROPEAN
  PROJECTS ON WOMENS AND GENDER STUDIES
• OTHER NETWORKING AND POSSIBLE CONSORTIA WITH
  WOMENS STUDIES ACROSS CULTURES
• EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION NETWORKS. UNIVERSITY
  NETWORKS WORLDWIDE
• GEMMA APPLICATION FORMS
• COORDINATING INSTITUTION LATEST ACTIVITIES IN
  INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION (PRO-RECTORSHIP FOR
  INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS)
• COORDINATING INSTITUTION LATEST ACTIVITIES ON
  ESHE (PRO-RECTORSHIP FOR ESHE)

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GEMMA Erasmus Mundus Masters Degree in
Womens Studies and Gender. Strengths (Cmmission
Experts evaluation) Expert 1 Comment
-------------------------- Academic quality and
integration of the study programme -offered at
eight renowned universities by professors highly
qualified in the relevant field. -The courses
offered llave a very high scientific level and
reflect the current state of the art in gender
and women's studies. -The objectives of the
master programme are formulated clearly,
particularly regarding the competencies and
learning outcomes of the graduates. Also their
qualification for the job market is convincingly
explained. -The study programme is based on
eight different master courses already exisiting
at the eight partner universities. The expertise
of each university is clearly considered and
integrated. -The ECTS system is correctly used.
ECTS credits are allocated according to workload,
and the ECTS grades are used as relative grades.
-The educational aims are very convincingly
formulated and extraordinarily extensive. Due to
existing problems with national legislation, in
the master programme "Gemma" a double degree will
be awarded. It is however contractually agreed
upon that this degree is recognized by each of
the partner institutions. -The Diploma
supplement developed jointly by the eight
partners for the entire study programme is
regarded extremely positive. Admission and
mobility -"Gemma" application procedures have
been developed in detail, an application form and
checklists for documents are provided for
interested students. -Selection criteria are
clearly formulated. -Modes of examination and
examination criteria are made clear. Payment
procedures for fees are clearly explained.
-Mobility mechanisms and administrative
procedures for this are well thought of and
described. -ECTS tools are correctly used for
mobilities.
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• Third-country students/scholars and language
  policy
• -The consortium has numerous links and
  partnerships with institutions, networks and
  relevant chairs to recruit the best Master
  student candidates and scholars.
• -An information and recruitment campaign is
  clearly foreseen and developed by a publicity
  taskforce.
• -Electronic media and existing newsletters will
  be used to announce the master programme.
• Admission and application procedures are clearly
  described and well developed.
• Application forms are already existing.
• -It is regarded very positively that the language
  of the host institution is used for studying
  etc., whereas the thesis can be written and
  defended in one of the languages of the
  participating countries.
• Quality assurance and evaluation
• -Instruments and procedures for quality assurance
  are clearly described for each partner
  institution.
• External and internal quality procedures are
  foreseen.
• Results of evaluation will be integrated in
  teaching.
• ECTS tools are correcly used.
• The issuing of a joint Diploma Supplement is
  regarded as a best practice example.
• Management and feasibility
• -Cooperation mechanisms are complex and
  well-structured.
• -The management structure is logical and it is
  evident that the project will be managed very
  well in this structure.
• -The distribution of tasks to different
  taskforces is a best-practice-model.

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• Expert 2 Comment
• --------------------------
• Academic quality and integration of the study
  programme
• -Created as a result of joint developments within
  the Erasmus thematic network Athena, result of
  long-standing cooperation and collective
  expertise accumulated during the last ten years
  building on "working towards a joint European
  curriculum in Gender Studies".
• -The project background and rationale are very
  solid and clearly explained and the course
  excellently defined. -Consistent reasons are
  provided to explain contribution towards
  university excellences and European
  competitiveness.
• -The large consortium of 8 universities from 7
  different countries is properly justified and
  underlines a significant European dimension.
• -All participating universities demonstrate
  outstanding expertise in Gender studies both in
  research and in different course programmes at
  PhD and MA level.
• -Efforts have been made by all partners to find
  core elements in their current programmes which
  could be essential component of the first
  semester module the contents of which have been
  commonly agreed by all.
• The large size of consortium has also the
  advantage to enable a rich and diverse choice of
  optional courses and combinations from humanities
  and social sciences in almost "á la carte" menu.
• -The two-year course structure (120 CTS credits)
  is very clear and full description of the whole
  study programme is appended.
• -All syllabi are presented in details and
  appended to the project.
• -The learning outcomes are properly described in
  details in terms of knowledge acquisition,
  intellectual, practical and transferible skills
  acquired by successful completion of the study
  programme.
• -All involved partners agree with the double
  degree and approval by respective competent
  administration boards mentioned.
• -Recognition of the 120 ECTS credits is committed
  in writing by all partners in the Consortium and
  appended to the project. Students will receive a
  double degree according to the two universities
  chosen following the mobility combination
  specified in the course format. There is
  manifested intent of the whole Consortium to move
  toward a joint degree in the near future.
• -The Consortium adopted the Diploma Supplement
  principle and customized it in order to provide
  full information about the eight national grading
  systems and their translation into ECTS grading
  scale.
• -The involved professors demonstrate excellent
  professional and teaching experience. A summary
  of the CVs of the course leaders appended to the
  project provides convincing information about
  high quality of teaching.
• Most of the involved teachers are permanent staff
  of their respective universities.
• Continuous tutoring of the students is ensured
  also by use of virtual platforms to facilitate
  contact and teaching collaboration especially
  during mobility periods.
• .

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• Admission and mobility
• -Limited admission criteria are set, giving thus
  large access possibility. Criteria include
  knowledge of one of the languages (EN, ES, IT),
  however this is not considered enough when
  students should spend study periods in two
  different countries. This may generate the risk
  for the students to choose their mobility
  according to the language competence rather than
  interest in contents study in the country of
  destination.
• -On-line application is explained and thorough
  information provided about the full list of
  required document and the way they should be
  presented.
• -The selection process is fair and transparent,
  based on equal treatment of all candidates,
  quality control and evaluation of the studies
  taken abroad by the third-country students.
• -A compensatory system is foreseen to ensure that
  all partners receive enough students and scholars
  from both EU and third-countries.
• -The tuition fee is established at equal level
  without discrimination between EU and
  thirdcountry students.
• Compensatory of partial fee-waving is in view for
  non-funded European students. Financial
  management of the income from students' fee and
  funds distribution among partners is transparent
  and correctly described and subject to a
  committee supervision.
• Arrangements for student evaluation are fair and
  quality tools and structures are adopted to
  ensure transparency (ECTS grading scale, Diploma
  Supplement, quality control taskforce).
• A mobility scheme is presented with indication
  of all possible combinations, duration and credit
  allocation.
• Third-country students/scholars and language
  policy
• -The strategy to attract third-country students
  uses appropriate tools for publicity and
  effective methodology.
• -Through an Erasmus Thematic Network this Master
  has extensive potential to easily reach the
  desired targets far beyond Europe.
• -The services in support of third-country
  students are guaranteed at high quality by the
  international structures currently functioning in
  all partner universities. These have extensive
  experience and expertise to work with
  international students. The attached guides touch
  all the aspects from international student life.
  The mentor system is valuable to ensure
  international student coaching and counselling on
  all practical and professional matters.
• -The estimated number of third-country students
  is 36 out of which 25 are expected to receive
  Erasmus Mundus grant. This represents 40 from
  the total number of foreseen students (90).
• -Teaching languages are EN, ES, IT. The language
  policy makes a difference between the teaching
  language and examination / thesis language that
  may be different. Language learning support is
  mentioned within four partner universities
  (Granada, Bologna, Utrecht and Hall).

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Quality assurance and evaluation -Each partner
university is governed by an appropriate system
of quality assurance and this is presented in
details. -To ensure quality of the Master
programme the Consortium adopted an effective
strategy based on specific structures, mechanisms
and tools. -Students are actively involved in
course evaluation. -Evaluation outcomes are also
mentioned, such as establishing a GEMMA alumni
association and publishing an annual review of
GEMMA evolution. Management and feasibility -The
cooperation mechanisms within the Consortium are
strong and efficient, demonstrating outstanding
experience in running large structures with
important international involvement.
-Appropriate structures as taskforces and
committees, effective communication strategy,
clear marketing plan, and strategic plans for
action are set up. -Specific administrative
position will be created at the coordinating
institution fully devoted to administrative
coordination. -The project shows full guarantee
for its feasibility. Other aspects -The research
activities directly related with the MA contents
are considered for 30 ECTS credits, but research
possibilities for enrolled student go far
beyond. -Synergies are created between this
Master programme and the related thematic
networks created under Erasmus (ATHENA, COTEPRA,
ACUME) which foster research opportunities.
Consistent links with research are mentioned by
participation of most of the partners in
different research projects. -Some of GEMMA
partners have already extended consortia in third
countries and the examples provided increase the
chances to attract important number of
students -The whole programme is of very good
quality and can be representative at European
level in tuning common curricula in gender
studies.

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And now, what? Opportunities for the
future-managing structure (steering committee,
publicity taskforce, quality control taskforce,
student forum)-alumni association
dissemination and feedback for improvement-annua
l review in ATHENA publications-creation of
virtual tutoring platforms-link with joint
European phd programmes

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Threats in the near future-Asian windows not
enough need for LatinAmerican and Mediterranean
windows-Not enough granted students for such a
large consortium need to call on other European
actions-Grants urgently needed for European
students now at an obvious disadvantage in this
programme-State of institutionalisation of WS
and Gender Studies at undergraduate level is
still less at South European countries.
Significance for the selection of students?
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• Action 2 scholarships for 3rd country students
  (deadline 28 february)
• Over 200 applications received
• From 50 different countries
• 20 selected and sent to the commission
• Consortium selection meeting
• Difficult issue fair distribution
• academic excelence
• (windows,
• criteria for distribution among partners,
• number of applications for each partner,
• dissemination of information,)

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GEMMA Erasmus Mundus Masters Degree in
Womens Studies and Gender www.ugr.es/local/gemma
Email gemma_at_ugr.es Coordinación Prof. Adelina
Sánchez Espinosa Instituto Universitario de
Estudios de la Mujer Universidad de
Granada adelina_at_ugr.es
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Conclusion It was/is/will be hard work
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But working togetherit will be fun
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Thank you