This is a Marie Curie Early Stage Training project in the interdisciplinary area of gender and women's studies in the humanities and social sciences. Partners of 7 institutions with proven record of high expertise in gender research and education will jointly train and exchange PhD students. The training structure is: core curriculum of structured courses, some jointly taught by the partners, intensive training sessions, research seminars with emphasis on issues of interdisciplinary methodology, targeted tutorials and individual supervision sessions. Gender Studies is defined according to the standard definition area adopted by the EU: the study, analysis and evaluation of the factors that affect the social, cultural, economic, intellectual and scientific status of women and minorities.

Gender as a historical and cultural product affects personal identity, but also is a principle of organization of social structures and institutions; gender forms the basis for normative values and socially enacted meanings and representations. Gender Studies addresses theoretical and practical aspects of scientific research to contribute to a better understanding of the factors that delay the implementation of changes in the status of women and minorities. This field consequently involves also men and it defines "women" as a category that includes differences of culture, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation and age. Synergy is created between this EST and networks of Gender Studies that have been officially recognized by the European Commission (the Socrates Thematic Network ATHENA, coordinated by host), to ensure a prominent European dimension. The methodology is interdisciplinary and involves both quantitative and qualitative comparative training methods. The EST gives high priority to the interest of the students and proposes a structured and monitored training programme. Quality is assuranced through: written course evaluation, faculty level control, annual progress assesment, personalized training programme, regular supervision and mentoring.