This research aims to investigate how higher education institutions (HEIs) have developed strategies to promote gender equality (GE) and assess their contribution to public value (PV) creation. The study focuses on analyzing the GE objectives and actions outlined in HEIs’ gender equality plans (GEPs), specifically targeting two key areas for advancing GE in HEIs: gender balance in leadership and decision-making processes and GE in recruitment and career progression. A content analysis of GEPs published by public Italian HEIs was conducted. Objects in the two areas and their corresponding actions were analyzed, and their coherence was assessed. They were also coded to identify common paths. The analysis highlights specific recurring patterns primarily related to the need to regulate access to leadership positions and address the vertical segregation of staff, particularly academics. However, the need to create a conductive context for GEP implementation, by fostering a GE culture and integrating GE objectives within HEIs’ overall strategies, also emerges from the analysis. This underscores the challenges HEIs face in effectively contributing to PV creation within the realm of GE.