Sustaining change by remaining accountable
MINDtheGEPs is promoting gender equality on the structural and cultural levels of organisations working in research and innovation. That includes a conscious effort to remain accountable after the project ends, to ensure sustained. Munster Technological University in Ireland has developed synergies between activities in the University’s efforts in MINDtheGEPs and Athena Swan that will help create sustainable structures for gender equality.
Munster Technological University (MTU) is a multi-campus technological university in Ireland, committed to diversity and inclusion across the staff and student communities. The University has received an Athena Swan Bronze award, something that comes with obligations. In addition to establishing relevant governing bodies, the University is required to identify both gaps opportunities for gender equality, diversity and inclusion and to develop and deploy actions to promote equal opportunities, well-being in the workplace and non-discrimination.
The synergies between the actions gender equality plan developed in MINDtheGEPs and the University’s commitment to Athena Swan has helped create robust structures for the future. One of the actions on the MTU Kerry campus is a gender award in the STEM department, a traditionally male-dominated field.
“With the introduction of the award where students, our undergrads and postgrads, are encouraged to think about gender and how gender can influence their research allows for the conversation around gender to be included within a discipline is traditionally male-dominated”, says Aoife Ní Fhlatharta, equality and inclusion researcher at MTU Kerry.
In the short term, one success for MINDtheGEPs is the visible commitment from senior leadership and widespread participation in activities from staff across all levels of the organisation. However, in the long term, those efforts need to be sustained. The Athena Swan award in April 2024 will ensure that the efforts continue, and that the organisation remains accountable.
“We need to be accountable for ensuring gender equality, but not only that. We have to be accountable for being an inclusive university regardless of gender, sexual orientation, and that we are very aware of our ‘EDI’ status”, says Aoife Ní Fhlatharta.
Do you want to know more?
- Munster Technological University (MINDtheGEPs)
- Gender Equality Plans (MINDtheGEPs)
- MTU achieves its first institutional Athena Swan Bronze Award (mtu.ie)
By Josepine Fernow