Horizon Europe Gender Equality Plan

The University of Cambridge is committed to ensuring and promoting gender equality, and seeks to identify and mitigate any imbalances. 

We align with the Horizon Europe Gender Equality Plan (GEP) requirements as follows:

Commitment to gender equality

The University of Cambridge is a founder member of Athena SWAN Charter, a framework used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research. 

In 2014, the University achieved its Silver Athena SWAN award which was then renewed in 2018. The University’s institutional Athena Swan application and action plan  was signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen Toope. 

The Action plans demonstrate a commitment to gender equality and sets out clear gender goals, related objectives and action points.

"A firm commitment to gender equality is essential to becoming, and remaining, an outstanding global research institution – and it underpins our university's core values.

We acknowledge that women are still under-represented in senior roles at the University of Cambridge, and over-represented at more junior levels. Addressing this disparity is not easy, and will take time, but we are fundamentally committed to reducing gender imbalances across our university, as outlined in our Institutional Athena Swan Action Plan."

      - Professor  Stephen J Toope, Vice-Chancellor

Equality & Diversity Team (E&D) 

The E&D team is a specialist advisory group that is responsible for supporting equality and diversity policy development and implementation. 

It seeks to engage all University members in promoting a positive and fully inclusive environment which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, in line with the equality legal duties for the higher education sector.

Data collection and monitoring

The University analyses its gender data on an annual basis which feeds into reports that are used to inform the University’s efforts to ensure an inclusive environment for work and study and to measure the impact of equality and inclusion initiatives. 

The following publications are available:

• Gender Pay Gap Reports
• Equal Pay Review and Reports

Training 

The University supports its staff by offering training that tackles issues of inequality and reduces the risk of gender, race or other discrimination when making decisions. Specific training includes

• Understanding Unconscious Bias - introduces implicit or unconscious bias and how it impacts on decision-making and relationships including recruitment, selection and assessment.
• Inclusive Leadership Programme - designed to support leaders and managers to effectively manage a diverse range of perspectives and create an inclusive culture across the University. Leaders and managers have a key role to play shaping a positive working environment, supporting progression & ensuring equality, including pay equality.