5.3.1
Measuring and Tracking Women’s Application and Acceptance Rates Policy
The University of Thessaly (UTh) is committed to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of gender, have equal access to educational opportunities. As part of its strategic objectives, the University aims to measure and track gender disparities in the application, acceptance, and entry rates, focusing specifically on women, to promote gender equality and empowerment within higher education.
This policy establishes the framework for acquiring, monitoring, and evaluating data on women’s participation in university admissions and degree programs, in line with the principles of Law 4957/2022 and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
Purpose and Strategic Framework
This policy aims to:
Promote gender equity in admissions by identifying and addressing barriers that may limit women’s participation in higher education.
Implement a data-driven approach to monitor progress on gender balance in applications, acceptances, and enrollments.
Align with national and international initiatives that seek to increase gender equality in higher education and academic leadership.
Scope
This policy applies to:
All academic departments, faculties, and schools across the University.
The Admissions Office and the Office of Institutional Research that are responsible for collecting and analyzing data on student applications and admissions.
All University governance bodies involved in strategic planning, academic planning, and gender equality initiatives.
Key Provisions
Data Collection Framework
The Admissions Office, in cooperation with the Office of Institutional Research, will regularly collect data on the number of applications, acceptances, and entries to the University, disaggregated by gender.
The University will track applications by gender, acceptance rates, enrollment rates, and academic performance, focusing on women in comparison to men and other underrepresented groups.
Annual Reporting and Evaluation
The University will prepare annual reports that include gender-disaggregated data on the application, acceptance, and enrollment rates of female applicants.
Reports will also include a comparison analysis of trends over time, identifying any disparities or gender gaps and strategies for improvement.
Targeted Initiatives and Support
Based on the data gathered, the University will develop targeted initiatives to address gender disparities, including outreach programs for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and other underrepresented fields.
Initiatives may include mentorship programs, scholarships, gender awareness campaigns, and partnerships with external organizations that promote women’s empowerment in higher education.
Action Plan for Gender Equality
The University will incorporate the results of these reports into its Gender Equality Action Plan, which will outline specific goals, timelines, and resources to close any identified gender gaps.
The plan will be reviewed annually and updated based on new data and evolving best practices in gender equity.
Transparency and Accountability
The University will make the data on women’s application, acceptance, and entry rates publicly accessible through the University website and annual reports, ensuring transparency and accountability in gender equity efforts.
The University will also participate in national and international benchmarking exercises to assess its performance relative to peer institutions in promoting gender equality.
Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
The University will work with local governments, educational institutions, women’s organizations, and other stakeholders to support and promote gender-inclusive educational policies at the regional and national level.
Collaborations may include joint research, shared outreach programs, and advocacy initiatives to increase women’s representation in higher education.
Governance and Responsibilities
The Rector will oversee the implementation of this policy, ensuring coordination between academic and administrative units.
The Academics Office is responsible for collecting and reporting the gender-disaggregated data.
Review and Continuous Improvement
This policy will be reviewed every three years to assess its effectiveness and update strategies based on the latest data, feedback from stakeholders, and evolving national and international best practices in gender equality in higher education.
Through this policy, the University of Thessaly reaffirms its commitment to equal educational opportunities for women, addressing gender disparities and ensuring that women have equal access to the educational, academic, and professional opportunities offered by the institution.