Professor Dr. Inga Žalėnienė, Rector of Mykolas Romeris University (MRU), took part in the European Women Rectors Association (EWORA) conference, titled “Gender Equality in the Academy is Fragile: Is Values-Led Leadership the Answer?”, held on June 26–27 at the Catholic University of Portugal in Lisbon.

The two-day conference brought together women rectors, higher education leaders, policymakers, and experts from across Europe and beyond. Participants discussed strategies to strengthen values-led leadership, policy measures that can effectively promote gender equality in higher education, ways to foster inclusive academic environments, and the role of artificial intelligence in this context.

The conference sessions highlighted not only the challenges faced by higher education institutions in achieving gender equality but also inspiring examples of how change can be implemented in practice. The closing part of the event reinforced the shared vision for promoting equal opportunities in the academic community and emphasized the importance of further action.

Prof. Dr. Žalėnienė moderated the discussion "Breaking the Fragility Circle: Is Values-Led Leadership a Path to Strengthening Gender Equality in Academia?" and also participated in the closing session "Looking Ahead in Difficult Times: Conference Wrap-up and Closing Remarks."

The EWORA conference in Lisbon once again confirmed that dialogue, sharing experiences, and developing joint strategies are essential steps toward sustainable gender equality in academia.