IRELAND’S universities have signed up to a gender equality charter – 10 years after Britain joined the same one.
The Athena SWAN charter has been operating in Britain for 10 years and aims to see more women in higher posts in universities across the country.
It was announced this week that the charter would be extended to the seven universities in the Republic – with the North of Ireland’s two universities already supporting the cause.
As well as the universities, Ireland’s 14 institutes of technology and the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin will join the charter.
The latest figures from the Higher Education Authority in Ireland revealed that just 19 per cent of university professors are women – with women also making up just 29 per cent of senior academic staff in institutes of technology.
Traditionally male-led fields of study such as engineering, mathematics and physical science see the gender gap dropping even further back.
Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan, who launched the charter in Dublin, said: “It is important that our higher level education sector fairly represents the diversity and innovation that are at the heart of Irish society.”
