The KEG is an open association of organizations, teaching programs and coordination centers at universities, colleges and non-university gender studies institutions.
Working Principles of the Conference as a Network
The KEG organizes regular workshops (typically once a year). These offer member institutions and individuals the opportunity to discuss current frameworks, questions and problems in the fields of women’s and gender studies. We work not only on academic questions, but also on questions regarding the politics of modern European universities, and collectively write and publish resolutions regarding both the content and the organization of women’s and gender studies in the academic world.
When required, we also hold additional workshops, academic conferences, or other events between our yearly meetings.
At our yearly meetings the KEG collectively decides which organization(s) will organize the meeting for the next year. Ideally, this responsibility falls on an the organization that is also organizing the national gender studies society conference of either Germany, Austria or Switzerland. This organization also assumes responsibility for preparing our working meetings and the yearly update of our mailing list, which they then give to the organization that organizes our conference the next year.
At our yearly conference an organization chair from each Germany, Switzerland and Austria is elected to a one-year term. Should this not be possible and two or more representatives from Germany are selected, then the representatives should come from different federate states within Germany.
The speakers work together with the organization that is charged with planning the KEG conference to plan the agenda for the meeting. In doing so they must rely on the engagement of all member groups and their willingness to prepare panels and working groups.
Resolutions During Yearly Meetings
Resolution proposals should be drafted and sent to all member institutions
well in advance of our yearly meeting. If at least three members support the
proposal it will be put on the agenda for our yearly meeting to be discussed
and voted on.
Proposals that have not earned the support of three members before our meeting,
as well as any resolutions proposed over the course of our meeting, will be
decided on by a simple majority at the closing meeting. All resolutions that
have won a majority vote will be given to all members in written form.
Resolutions In Between Yearly Meetings
Should a member see a need for collective action between our yearly meetings,
they may initiate a written resolution procedure. A draft resolution will
be sent to all member institutions via email. If more than half of current
member institutions respond affirmatively, the entire group will be notified
in the name of those in favor of the resolution.
We rely on Gender Campus
– a virtual information and communication platform provided by the Swiss
universities – for our internal communication.
In addition, should the political atmosphere within the university system,
or German-speaking world more broadly merit action from our organization,
our chairs are empowered to initiate resolutions intended for a general public.
These resolutions are put up to a vote by our members, and publication decided
by a simple majority.