James Cook University has been awarded a SAGE Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award for its work to increase gender equity and diversity.
SAGE, or Science in Australia Gender Equity, aims to bring the education and research sector together to improve gender equity and diversity in Australia’s higher education and research organisations.
“This award is very welcome recognition of the progress we have made to date, and the initiatives we’re putting in place across the next five years, to make further progress towards gender equality,” Vice Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding said.
“Women are under-represented in senior academic positions across the higher education sector, and JCU is no exception.
“There is a great deal for us to do, to ensure that all staff are able to work to their potential, which of course means that the University and the communities we serve will benefit from the full range of talent and expertise available.”
JCU has established a broadly based team of staff (the Gender Equity Action and Research Team, or GEAR) to advise and support senior managers who are leading more than three dozen related initiatives, and will meet quarterly in 2021 to review their progress.
“There will be different ways for staff to be involved in the coming year and I encourage everyone to use the many opportunities we will have next year to learn more,” Professor Harding said.
