The Second National Review of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education has been launched.
The review was first launched on 15 March.
The second review makes a number of recommendations including the need for each higher education institution to have a gender equality action plan that is published on the institution’s website, and a strategy should be developed under the aegis of ‘Funding the Future’ to address precarity of employment.
National Review of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris said:
“I want to thank the expert group and the HEA for their work in completing this review. The recommendations in the report build on those of previous national policy documents and add further nuance to the understanding of gender equality in Irish higher education.
“As part of my brief, it is essential that I ensure that everyone in our society, no matter their gender or background, has the same access to higher education, and that they are treated equally in all respects across the sector.
“This review is yet another vital step on the road to creating a truly equal higher education system, which will in turn have a lasting impact on society as a whole.”
Chair of the expert group Niamh O’Donoghue said:
“The contribution of higher education in Ireland is immense both in terms of opening minds to new ideas, informing and educating for the future, as well as building and reinforcing the values that shape civic society. The importance of the higher education institutions as exemplars of the type of society we seek to build cannot be understated.
“There has been significant progress in relation to gender equality on several levels since the HEA review of 2016 and the Gender Equality Taskforce action plan of 2018. This progress is owed to engagement by many of the stakeholders, investment by the government and by individual institutions, and huge work by many individuals throughout the system. Yet, despite this there is much more work to be done.
“The group recognises that there is a real opportunity in Ireland for higher education institutions to make gender equality a reality thereby creating a ripple effect through all society. The progress already made gives us real confidence that there is an appetite and a willingness to embrace this agenda.”
HEA CEO Dr Alan Wall said:
“This report consolidates the work that began in 2016 and sets a clear pathway to gender equality in Irish higher education. The HEA looks forward to working with institutions to ensure that Ireland stays at the cutting edge of the European Research Area’s priority action to promote gender equality and foster inclusiveness in the research and innovation system across Europe.”
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