GENDER EQUALITY PLANS IN BULGARIAN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Gender equality plans are an eligibility criterion in research funding under Horizon Europe from 2022. The article analyzes the ideas of gender equality in a European and national context and the applicable terminology. Discussions on indicators of gender equality in higher education, national specifics and approaches to their implementation are presented. The aim of the article is to systematize the issues, methodological problems and solutions in the development of GEPs, examining the theoretical foundations, regulation, statistics and good practices in Europe and Bulgaria. The topic is gaining popularity in our country and so far the emphasis has been on building organizational capacity and culture, instead of engaging with specific indicators of gender equality.