In a new eligibility criterion to access to Horizon research funding, research performing organisations and higher education establishments are required to have a gender equality plan (GEP) in place. The European Commission (EC) has made this mandatory since 2022. The GEP includes four compulsory process-related requirements, and it is recommended that it should address five thematic areas.
Trinity College Dublin meets both the mandatory requirements and thematic recommendations of a Gender Equality Plan (GEP), as outlined below:
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EC Horizon Europe Requirement |
How Trinity meets this requirement |
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Publication: a formal document published on the institution’s website and signed by the top management. |
The 2023 TCD Athena Swan (AS) Gender Action Plan (GAP) is on our website here Trinity committed to the new Athena Swan Ireland Charter in late 2021 with a letter signed by Provost Linda Doyle. The Trinity Athena Swan Institutional Submission contains a letter signed in 2023 by Provost Linda Doyle. |
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Dedicated resources: commitment of resources and expertise in gender equality to implement the plan. |
Trinity has a dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Office led by the Associate Vice Provost for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (AVP-EDI). The AVP- EDI role became full time in September 2021. The EDI Office has an Equality Officer (full-time), an EDI Data Analyst and Athena Swan Project Officer (full-time) and a dedicated Executive Officer (part-time). Our Trinity Inclusive Curriculum Project has two full time staff and works to embed the principles of inclusion in all aspects of the academic cycle, across all courses, modules and programmes at Trinity. The EDI office is assigned an annual budget from ASD in College. The University Athena Swan Committee, Chaired by the AVPEDI, monitors actions and progress on the Gender Action Plan. Trinity has two Athena Swan Champions in each School and there are currently 24 Self-Assessment Teams across schools and units working on Athena Swan applications and progressing local Gender Action Plans. The Trinity Athena Swan Champions Network meets regularly to build capacity and support equality work in schools and units. The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Sub-Committee is a Sub-Committee of Trinity College's People and Culture Committee, with responsibility for advising the People and Culture Committee on all EDI-related matters. |
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Data collection and monitoring: sex and/or gender disaggregated data on personnel and students and annual reporting based on indicators. |
Data is collected for HEA and AS annual reporting and monitoring from HR, AR and via staff surveys at institutional level and School level. Qualitative data is also collected to inform EDI work across all equality grounds and in relation to Athena Swan actions. The Annual Equality Monitoring Report contains information and data from Trinity, this report format is currently being revised and updated.
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Training: awareness-raising/training on gender equality and unconscious gender biases for staff and decision-makers. |
The EDI office has several online trainings as well as in person training on specific EDI areas and inclusive teaching and learning. Training offered includes: · EDI in HE online course which is mandatory for all TCD staff sitting on recruitment interview panels and on College Committees. · Let’s Talk About Race in the Higher Education Sector. · Unconscious bias training via the SAGE module and LinkedIn Learning. · The Trinity Athena Swan Champions Network has presentations from guest speakers to share learnings and good practices. · HR offer workshops throughout the academic year for staff in relation to EDI areas of interest.
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The following five thematic areas are recommended by the European Commission for GEP content.
- Work-life balance and organisational culture:
- Gender balance in leadership and decision-making
- Gender equality in recruitment and career progression
- Integration of the gender dimension into research and teaching content
- Measures against gender-based violence including sexual harassment
All five areas are addressed by Trinity in our Athena Swan Gender Action Plan; via specific focussed working groups, through HR led initiatives and researcher training, and through the work of the Research Development Office in Trinity Research. The Research Development Office provides Trinity researchers with specialist advice, resources, and training on sex and gender considerations in research design, through the proposal preparation process, and through events open to all researchers. Trinity has a range of activities to combat gender-based violence through our Action Plan to Tackle Sexual Violence and Harassment, Together Consent training and resources, this area is led by the Trinity Consent Framework Working Group. Read more on our policy here and at our Dignity, Respect, and Consent Service.
In addition Trinity through its memberships of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) (member since 2016) Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Group and the Coimbra Group (founding member 1988) Equality and Diversity Working Group to highlight and progress work related to EDI at a European level.
For more information please visit the following links:
Higher Education Authority Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
European Commission Approaches to inclusive gender equality in research and innovation resource
Horizon Europe Guidance on Gender Equality Plans