Maynooth University was announced as the winner of the Newcomer Gender Equality Champion prize in the inaugural EU Award for (Academic) Gender Equality Champions. Winners were announced by Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel at a ceremony in Brussels today. The Award recognises progress achieved in advancing gender equality for staff and students in academic and research organisations.
Maynooth University is the inaugural winner of the Newcomer Gender Equality Champion Prize, which was targeted at organisations that have recently started implementing a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) and can demonstrate progress in its implementation and achieved results.
Maynooth University’s application focused on key areas of progress that the University has achieved since 2017, throughout the lifecycle of the Maynooth University Gender Equality Action Plan 2018-2022. The Award recognises the work to progress gender equality by the Maynooth University Gender Equality Steering Group, its associated Working Groups, Human Resources, the Institutional Research Office, Research Development Office, the EDI Office and other University offices and units.
Professor Eeva Leinonen, President of Maynooth University, said: “We are very proud to be the inaugural recipients of the Newcomer Gender Equality Champions Prize, which celebrates the collective commitment of staff and students across the University to advancing gender equality. Gaining this honour from the European Commission offers the recognition that Maynooth University is a beacon of excellence in gender equality in higher education. Whilst greater progress is needed, we will endeavour to build on this success as part of our overall commitment of excellence, opportunity and impact.”
About the EU Award for Gender Equality Champions
In July 2022, the European Commission launched the EU Award for Gender Equality Champions, a scheme which intends to advance inclusive gender equality initiatives in the framework of the new European Research Area (ERA). The Award complements the requirement for Higher Education Institutions to have Gender Equality Plans (GEP) as an eligibility criterion for Horizon Europe, the EU’s programme for innovation and research.
Applications to the first edition of the new EU Award for Gender Equality Champions were open to academic and research organisations from EU Member States and countries associated with Horizon Europe. Four prizes were awarded in three categories: Sustainable Gender Equality Champions, Newcomer Gender Equality Champions, and Inclusive Gender Equality Champions.
Bronntar Gradam AE ar Ollscoil Mhá Nuad do Sheaimpíní an Chomhionannais Inscne
Dé Céadaoin, 8 Márta 2023:
Fógraíodh Ollscoil Mhá Nuad mar bhuaiteoir den duais do Sheaimpín Nuathagtha an Chomhionannais Inscne ag an gcéad Ghradam AE do Sheaimpíní (Acadúla) an Chomhionannais Inscne. Fógraíodh na buaiteoirí ag an Coimisinéir don Nuálaíocht, Taighde, Cultúr, Oideachas agus Óige, Mariya Gabriel ag searmanas sa Bhruiséil inniu. Tugann an Gradam aitheantas don tréanobair ata déanta chun comhionannas inscne a chur chun cinn do bhaill foirne agus do mhic léinn in eagraíochtaí acadúla agus taighde.
Seo an chéad uair do Dhuais Sheaimpín Nuathagtha an Chomhionannais Inscne bheith bronnta agus is ar Ollscoil Mhá Nuad a bhronntar é. Bhí an duais dírithe ach go háirithe ar eagraíochtaí atá tar éis Plean don Chomhionannas Inscne a chur i bhfeidhm agus atá in ann dul chun cinn sa chur i bhfeidhm agus torthaí atá bainte amach a thaispeáint.
Bhí béim in iarratas Ollscoil Mhá Nuad ar na príomhréimsí de dhul chun cinn atá bainte amach ón mbliain 2017, ó tugadh aghaidh ar Phlean Gníomhaíochta Ollscoil Mhá Nuad don Chomhionannas Inscne 2018-2022. Tugann an Gradam aitheantas don obair chun comhionannas inscne a chur chun cinn ag Grúpa Stiúrtha Ollscoil Mhá Nuad don Chomhionannas, na Grúpaí Oibre atá bainteach leis, Acmhainní Daonna, Oifig Taighde na hInstitiúide, an Oifig Forbartha Taighde, an Oifig Comhionannais, Éagsúlachta agus Ionchuimsitheachta agus oifigí agus aonaid Ollscoile eile.
Dúirt an tOllamh Eeva Leinonen, Uachtarán Ollscoil Mhá Nuad: “Is údar bróid dúinn é gurb é seo an chéad uair do Dhuais Sheaimpíní Nuathagtha an Chomhionannais Inscne bheith bronnta agus gur ar Ollscoil Mhá Nuad a bhronntar inniu í. Is ceiliúradh í an duais seo ar an gcomhthiomantas i measc na foirne agus na mac léinn thar timpeall na hOllscoile chun comhionannas inscne a chur chun cinn. Aitheantas atá san onóir seo ón gCoimisiún Eorpach gur eiseamláir de shármhaitheas í Ollscoil Mhá Nuad ó thaobh an chomhionannais inscne san ardoideachas. Cé go bhfuil gá le tuilleadh dul chun cinn, déanfaimid ár ndícheall chun tógaint ar an rath seo atá bainte amach againn mar chuid denár dtiomantas foriomlán do sármhaitheas, do dheiseanna agus do thionchar.”
Faoi Ghradam AE do Sheaimpíní an Chomhionannais Inscne
I mí Iúil 2022, sheol an Coimisiún Eorpach an Gradam AE do Sheaimpíní an Chomhionannais Inscne, scéim a bhfuil sé mar sprioc aici tionscnaimh ionchuimsitheacha ar chomhionannas inscne a chur chun cinn mar chuid den chreatlach sa Limistéar Taighde Eorpach nua. Tagann an Gradam leis an riachtanas atá ag Institiúidí Ardoideachais chun go mbeadh Pleananna don Chomhionannas Inscne mar chritéar cáilitheachta i gcomhar Horizon Europe, clár an Aontais Eorpaigh don nuálaíocht agus don taighde.
Bhí iarratais don chéad eagrán den Ghradam AE nua do Sheaimpíní an Chomhionannas Inscne oscailte do chuile institiúid acadúil agus taighde ó Bhallstáit an Aontais Eorpaigh agus ó thíortha a bhfuil baint acu le Horizon Europe. Bronnadh ceithre ghradam sna trí chatagóir seo a leanas: Seaimpíní Inbhuanaithe an Chomhionannais Inscne, Seaimpíní Nuathagtha an Chomhionannais Inscne agus Seaimpíní Ionchuimsitheacha an Chomhionannais Inscne.