Trinity College Dublin Becomes EU Gender Equality Champion
Trinity Provost Dr Linda Doyle said: “I am very proud that Trinity has won this award. Gender equality is a cornerstone of the deep-rooted fairness that we want Trinity to always embody. We have more to do and this wonderful award reminds us that we are on the right track.”
On International Women’s Day 2023, Trinity College Dublin was named an EU Gender Equality Champion in recognition of its century-old effort to work toward gender equality on its campus and in its sector.
The new European Union Award for (Academic) Gender Equality Champions, which comes with a €100,000 prize, was presented to a delegation from Trinity by European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Maryia Gabriel, at a ceremony today [8 March 2023] in Brussels.
Trinity was named a Sustainable Gender Equality Champion. The historical highlights Trinity cited in support of its application included:
Successfully achieving a Bronze level Athena SWAN Gender Equality Charter Award in 2015 – one of the first universities in Ireland to do so.
The establishment of the first university creche in 1969, offering childcare to students and staff.
The establishment of the Centre for Women’s Studies in 1989.
The achievement of 17 Bronze Athena Swan awards across the University, with an application currently underway for a Silver institutional award.
The 2021 appointment of the first female Provost, Dr Linda Doyle.
Four key women : Front Square
Above: Lorraine Leeson, Siobán O’Brien-Green, Provost Linda Doyle and Antoinette Quinn
Top image shows Provost Dr Linda Doyle with Prof. Lorraine Leeson, Siobán O’Brien-Green and Antoinette Quinn in front of a portrait of art historian and founder of Trinity’s Art History department, Anne Crookshank (Paul Sharp).
Trinity Provost Dr Linda Doyle said:
“I am very proud that Trinity has won this award. Gender equality is a cornerstone of the deep-rooted fairness that we want Trinity to always embody. We have more to do and this wonderful award reminds us that we are on the right track.
“I want to acknowledge the work of the team in our Equality Office, particularly our Associate Vice-Provost for EDI, Prof. Lorraine Leeson, and Acting Equality Officer, Dr Siobán O’Brien Green. I also want to acknowledge the work of our Director of HR, Antoinette Quinn, and our HR team for their work in this key area.”
Professor Lorraine Leeson, Associate Vice-Provost for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, said:
“This is a wonderful recognition of the intentional interventions that have been made over an extended period of time to open up pathways to participation for women in Trinity. There is a proverb that says that, when we drink water, we should never forget those who helped to dig the well: this award then also gives us the opportunity to stop and reflect on the incredible commitment to change that has been brought about over the past century, the past decades, and in the past years.
“There is still a way to go but today, we celebrate this incredible recognition of the work that has been done.”
The Trinity delegation comprised Professor Lorraine Leeson, Professor Graeme Watson, Chair of the Trinity Athena Swan Champions Network, Ms. Antoinette Quinn, Director of Human Resources, Dr Siobán O’Brien Green, Acting Equality Officer and Professor Eileen Drew (now retired) who played a key role in bringing the Athena Swan gender equality programme to Ireland.