How the REGARD program works

In 2004, the Equal Opportunities Offices of the Universities of Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel, and the USI developped the REGARD workshop program. A couple of years later, the USI left, but then the HES-SO and finally the EPFL jointed the project. Together, the six institutions offer each year more than 20 transversal skills workshops to female PhD candidates, professors, and members of the mid-level faculty.

The REGARD workshops propose concrete tools for career management and supervision. Participants develop necessary transversal skills together with other researchers from different universities. Our workshops create opportunities for discussion and the exchange of experience between women researchers. 

We open a couple of workshops each year to a mixed audience of female and male researchers to increase awareness about gender equality in the academic career. 

For whom, how and what?

  • Target groups: Assistants, PhD candidates, post-docs, maître-assistantes, MER et all other positions of the mid-level faculty, women professors 
  • Workshop topics: Plan your academic career; Project management for research; Communication tools; Personal development
  • Workshops in french and english
  • Free of charge for researchers from associated universities
  • At least 20 workshops each year for approx. 260 participants
  • Gender-mixed audience for certain workhops 

Goals

  • Develop generic skills that are essential for your career
  • Get to the grips with the rules of the academic world
  • Meet people who share the same issues and concerns
  • Learn how to keep the essential objectivity to reflect upon your career and options

History

2004 The Universities of Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel and the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) organize the first REGARD workshops
2005 The REGARD workshops are financed through the Federal Equal Opportunities Programme and the partner institutions
2006-2007 In 2006-2007, the partner universities organize 16 workshops in total
2008-2009 REGARD continues without the USI. In the season 2008-2009, 26 workshops take place.
2010 The HES-SO becomes an official partner of the workshop program
2012 That year, 21 workshop have been organized. From now on, the program seasons last 12 months instead of 24.
2016 The EPFL joins the REGARD team. 22 workshops (or 26 workshop days) are offered to the different target groupes
2017 21 workshops take place in the partner institution. Two of them are open to a mixed audience of female and male researchers
2019 The REGARD program celebrates its 15th anniversary
2020 - 2021 Due to the Covid-19 pandemie almost all workshops take place online
2021 REGARD proposes a workshop for men only for the first time
2023 REGARD presents a new visual identity
Questions? 

regard@unifr.ch