On April 8–9, 2025, the University of Minho in Braga (Portugal) hosted the final VOICES Annual Meeting, closing a vibrant chapter of collective reflection, advocacy, and collaboration. Organised under the leadership of Edna Costa, the event gathered VOICES members and local stakeholders to assess progress and chart new directions for advancing gender equality in academia.
The two-day program featured internal discussions, strategy workshops, and a public plenary roundtable titled “VOICES for Change: Integrating Political, Institutional and Student Perspectives on a More Inclusive Academia.” Moderated by VOICES Action Chair Anne-Sophie Godfroy, the session brought together key voices: Isabel Estrada Carvalhais (Associate Professor, EEG; former Member of the European Parliament), Adriana Lago de Carvalho (Commission for Gender Equality, University of Minho), Andreia Ribeiro (HeForShe, University of Minho), and Ana Simão Marques and Marta Calejo (UMAR, Braga).
Speakers reflected on structural barriers to gender equity in academia and the role of institutions, policy, and student engagement in fostering inclusive environments. The roundtable created space for intergenerational and cross-sector dialogue, reinforcing VOICES’ mission to elevate early-career perspectives within wider institutional change processes.
Closing remarks were offered by Miguel Ângelo Rodrigues, Vice-Dean of the School of Economics, Management and Political Science at the University of Minho, who acknowledged the collective achievements of the VOICES network and the importance of sustaining momentum.
The Braga meeting not only served as a moment of reflection and recognition—it marked a forward-looking commitment to inclusive academic futures shaped by collaboration, critical dialogue, and care.
