The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has taken important steps on the path to Quality of Education for all. With a view to ensure “supportive and safe environments for teaching and learning that are gender sensitive and completely free of discrimination”, which is one of the 10 key messages adopted by the ETUCE Committee on ‘What is needed to improve the Quality of Education in Europe?’,
IFUT is actively involved into initiatives on gender equality.
IFUT’s involvement is crucial to raise awareness of gender inequality and the potential of positive action initiatives to address it, within the university and higher education sector in Ireland. Specifically, these initiatives includes the (UCC) University College Cork’s-Through the Glass Ceiling project - to address the persistence of a glass ceiling for female academic and research staff and to set positive actions; and the GENOVATE project-Transforming Organisational Culture for Gender Equality in Research and Innovation 2013-2016 (www.genovate.eu).
The GENOVATE initiative is carried out with several European partner universities and aims at the implementation of an Individual Gender Equality Action Plan for all the partner institutions, to ensure equal opportunities for women and men in research, innovation and scientific decision-making bodies. The IFUT Deputy General Secretary currently works as an external member on the GENOVATE International Advisory Panel; and participates as a strategic collaborator working as an external member of the UCC GENOVATE Institutional (Gender Equality Action Plan) Management Board, providing guidance and overseeing the direction, quality and efficiency of the project.