Charters and self-commitments

Common standards for gender equality (in academia) can also be established through the adoption of charters and self-commitments. These are entered into on a voluntary basis and no control mechanisms are applied. Nevertheless, the signing of charters and self-commitments is an important tool to demonstrate to the outside world an institution's efforts towards gender equality.

Examples in Germany are the Charta Familie in der Hochschule (Family in the University Charter), the Charta der Vielfalt (Diversity Charter) and self-commitment to the implementation of the DFG’s gender equality standards. In the United Kingdom, initiatives include the Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, which each provide the basis for submission of an application for the Advance HE’s Equality awards.

Funding number: 01FP1901