New Gender Equality Plan at AGH University

This is the second such document developed by the Team for the Gender Equality Plan at the AGH University. The first Gender Equality Plan was drawn up in 2021, and its objectives have been implemented in the course of recent years. The new plan presents important and positive changes introduced over the last few years, also as a result of the implementation of the 2022-2024 edition of the plan. Among other things, the document contains an analysis of the main areas resulting from the guidelines formulated by the European Commission, i.e. gender equality in recruitment and career progression, gender balance in leadership and decision-making, integration of the gender dimension into research and teaching content, measures against gender-based violence, and work-life balance and organisational culture.

Women and men in the AGH University’s structure

• In 2024, among 2202 employed in teaching and research positions, as academic teachers, 30.4% were women and 69.6% were men.
• Women occupy 65% of administrative positions, whereas men – 35%.
• In total, 32.6% of students at the AGH University are women and 67.4% are men.

Equal opportunity approach – time for institutional changes

Since the implementation of the first Gender Equality Plan, the AGH University has developed the support system for counteracting violations, including discrimination and sexual harassment.  A direct result of the Plan was the appointment of an Equality Ombudsperson who monitors and intervenes in case of violations of the principles of equal treatment at the AGH University. Introduced by a Rector’s order, the “Principles of equal treatment” define and describe behaviours which bear hallmarks of discrimination. They determine behaviours forbidden against all persons from the AGH University community: employees, students, doctoral students, as well as the people participating in non-degree postgraduate programmes.

Apart from measures taken at the institutional level, the university has also implemented solutions raising awareness and disseminating knowledge on equal treatment. With the support of the AGH University Centre of e-Learning and Innovative Education, the staff and students could participate in training courses on equality in research, counteracting sexual harassment and discrimination, etc.

An important step on the path to raising awareness on various tools and units dealing with the field of equal treatment was the first Equality Day, organised in cooperation with the Jagiellonian University. During the event, the participants could learn more about the support of people with disabilities, mental health, and research projects on equal treatment and technology.

Changes at AGH University

Important and positive changes, that took place over the last few years, also as a result of the implementation of the GEP’s objectives from three years ago, may be observed in the increase in the number of women working as deans and the higher number of women leading international research projects. Currently, 40% of international projects is led by women.

Another positive result that has also been observed and included in the new Gender Equality Plan is the high level of work satisfaction in relation to nationwide surveys.

One of the most relevant conclusions is also the decrease in the number of violations, particularly of sexual harassment and homophobia, among the students of the AGH University. 

As emphasised by Professor Katarzyna Leszczyńska, Faculty of Humanities, chair of the Team for the Gender Equality Plan at the AGH University:

Key goals for the coming years, arising from the conducted diagnosis, concern institutional solutions for counteracting violations of equal treatment, education on equality, as well as building knowledge and raising awareness on diversity and organisational culture.