UTS named a leader in workplace gender equality

UTS is among 76 organisations to receive the inaugural Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).

Announced yesterday, the new citation has substantially raised the expected level of performance for citation holders, which include 11 universities.

"This year's citation holders have each demonstrated their commitment to maximising the full potential of their entire talent pool," said WGEA Director Helen Conway.

"Future job seekers, investors and procurement officers who are committed to working for, investing in and buying from organisations with best practice talent management strategies should refer to this list first. These organisations are the best of the best," Ms Conway said.

The 2014 applications highlight a growing recognition of the need to integrate men into diversity initiatives with a focus on promoting acceptance around men taking parental leave and working flexibly.

"Equity is not just a matter of principle at UTS," said Vice-Chancellor Professor Attila Brungs.

"Increasingly the young men and women seeking careers in universities are looking for organisations where they can have conversations about their family responsibilities and life outside of work. They don’t want to leave family and other life commitments outside the door when talking about their careers.

"We want equity to be part of UTS core business because as a relatively young innovative university, we want to attract brightest and best staff."

Professor Brungs said that generally UTS fares well in the higher education sector, with a significantly higher proportion than the sector as a whole of women in the senior positions of associate professor and professor.

"However, there are still significant challenges, both to fully reach representation at senior levels and to achieve equity across all disciplines – particularly in the science, engineering and technology areas," he said.

"We have had feedback from academics that they chose UTS because of our positive attitude to caring responsibilities at all levels as well as our willingness to put good policy into practice.

"We integrate our initiatives into all levels of the organisation – our Research Equity Initiative is a great example of this.

"The initiative provides a range of support programs targeting crucial stages in an academic career – from post graduate through to senior leadership – reaching into each faculty to identify and address specific issues at the local level."