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UCC receive prestigious EU award for inclusive gender equality achievements in Research and Innovation
University College Cork (UCC) has been named a European Union (EU) Gender Equality Champion in Research & Innovation, recognising the University’s outstanding efforts to advance gender equality, diversity, and inclusion across all levels of research and academia.
The award, part of the HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-GENDER programme, celebrates institutions making transformative, measurable progress in inclusive gender equality, particularly where initiatives intersect with other social categories such as race, disability, and caregiving responsibilities.
These awards, designed by the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DGRTD) and managed by the European Research Executive Agency (REA), aim to create a community of EU Gender Equality Champions that inspires other universities and research organisations to embed gender equality as a core institutional value.
UCC’s achievements include:
- Trailblazing policies: Four new Family Leave policies for foster care, surrogacy, fertility treatment, and domestic violence, plus a Menopause Support policy launched in 2024.
- Inclusive staff networks: Race Equality, Disability & Neurodiversity, and Carers’ Networks providing support and professional development for underrepresented groups.
- Honouring women pioneers: Two buildings renamed after Iris Ashley Cummins and Ellen Hutchings, and three rooms after Dr. Dora Allman, Dr. Lucy Smith, and Prof. Áine Hyland.
- National impact programmes: UCC’s sector-leading Bystander Intervention programme has reached over 20,000 participants nationwide.
- Transforming leadership representation: Women now make up 30% of Full Professors (up from 15% in 2019), half of Senior Post-Doctoral Researchers, and a growing proportion of Senior Lecturers and Research Fellows.
Accepting the University’s award at a ceremony Brussels on February 3rd, Deputy President & Registrar Professor Stephen Byrne, Chair of UCC’s Gender & Athena Swan Working Group, added: "This recognition is a testament to the dedication of colleagues across UCC, particularly our Staff Networks, those who contribute to and lead our School, College and University EDI Committees, and our colleagues in UCC’s EDI Unit, led by Dr. Avril Hutch. Their commitment ensures UCC continues to lead the way in equality and inclusion in research."
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Dr. Avril Hutch, Director of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, commented: "Being a Gender Equality Champion is about responsibility as much as achievement. It means UCC not only continues to advance equality internally but also takes a visible, leadership role in inspiring systemic change across higher education in Europe."
Professor John F. Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation, said: "Being named a European Gender Equality Champion in Research and Innovation positions UCC as a leader in shaping how universities and research organisations across Europe embed gender equality as a core value. This award enables us to inspire and guide others, showing what is possible when inclusion is central to our strategy."
This EU award is the latest achievement that UCC has had in the area of EDI, following on from the award of an institutional Silver Athena Swan award and UCC’s first Silver departmental Athena Swan award, to the School of Food & Nutritional Sciences, in November 2025.