SETU receives Europe's First Inclusive Gender Equality Champion Award

South East Technical University (SETU) was given Europe's first Inclusive Gender Equality Champion award (8 March) in Brussels at a special event to commemorate International Women's Day in honour of its noteworthy contributions to include gender equality.

This significant prize honours groups that have created the most inventive inclusive gender equality plans that take into account how other social categories, like disability or sexual orientation and gender identity (LGBTI+), intersect with gender.

"I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of the staff and students at South East Technical University," said Dr. Allison Kenneally, SETU's vice president for equality, diversity, and inclusion. I want to thank everyone who has helped make the event successful within our university community. They have all worked hard to promote inclusive gender equality in all of our campus buildings.

"At SETU, gender equality is everyone's concern, and we consistently work to foster an open, inclusive environment here. We have created and are now putting into action a thorough gender equality action plan that has already had a very beneficial effect. We will keep moving forward.”

"For our new institution to get this accolade is a tremendous accomplishment, and we look forward to advocating inclusive gender equality across the Irish and European higher education industry."

The award ceremony was organized as part of the first EU Female Founders Forum Summit and was presided over by Peter Dröll, Director at the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Science, Culture, Education and Youth.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mariya Gabriel declared: "The European Research Area prioritizes promoting and safeguarding gender-equal and safe working conditions. We honour the EU's champions for gender equality and applaud them for serving as an example for other organizations looking to eliminate the gender pay gap. Many thanks to all of our winners!

Simon Harris, the minister of higher education, research, innovation, and science, said: "From this department's inception, we have been quite clear that inclusion and equality are top priorities. Yet, it is quite encouraging to see that our institutions are setting the bar high in this regard. These honours, in my opinion, will serve as motivation for society as a whole to continue striving for a truly just and equitable Ireland for all."

The EU Prize for Gender Equality Champions, an initiative of the European Commission to recognize and celebrate the excellent successes made in the implementation of gender equality initiatives by academic and research organizations, was introduced in 2022.

The award seeks to increase public awareness of the requirement of inclusive Gender Equality Plan implementation as well as the significance of tackling gender equality via institutional transformation. Moreover, it aims to develop a network of leaders who can encourage other academic and research institutions to take up the cause of gender equality.