Gender bias training for senior NUIG academics

NUI Galway is to establish a new senior management position responsible for promoting equality and diversity across the university in rersponse to concerns about discrimination against women.
The position of Vice President of Equality and Diversity should focus initially on “the elimination of gender inequality” at NUIG. The new role is among four recommendations contained in the progress report of the Gender Equality taskforce at NUIG.
In a statement, NUIG said its Governing Authority met this week and has approved all the recommendations contained in the progress report.
The new office, according to the recommendation, should be fully resourced, and ensure that, “appropriate policies and procedures are in place to promote the career development and advancement of all women in the university so that they can meaningfully compete in promotion competitions in the knowledge that gender will not be a factor in the selection process.”
It will also be tasked with “identifying and co-ordinating gender champions across the institution”. Staff at the university including heads of schools, chairs of committees and interview boards, should engage in compulsory “unconscious bias training” with annual refresher courses.
According to the progress report, “unconscious bias is widespread throughout academia and its effect is to advantage men over women”. The training “helps participants to recognise their own biases helping them to make better and more rational decisions.”
The taskforce has met twice since it was established earlier this year.
It is due to complete a comprehensive report by March 31 next year.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.