Welcome
Professor Sandy Hwei San LOH
GEN Chair
I sincerely welcome you to Gender Equality in Nottingham (GEN) in The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC)!
Gender equality is defined as everyone should receive an equal treatment and not be discriminated against based on their gender. The University of Nottingham (UoN) including UNMC has been putting great efforts to work towards gender equality and work-life balance among staff members and students at all levels. WinSET working group was initiated in 2013 to promote gender equality in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics (STEMM) subjects at the first place. With a broader focus extended to all (STEMM and non-STEMM) disciplines, it is now called Gender Equality in Nottingham (GEN) starting in February 2017.
GEN is well supported at University, Faculty and Departmental levels, as manifested by the organizational structures at these levels, with the Provost and respective Deans from the three Faculties as Advisers. In collaborating with the university professional development unit, GEN has been organizing several leadership development programmes and workshops for all levels as well as mentoring programmes for academic promotions for all genders throughout the year.
GEN at UNMC is also working very closely with GEN at UK and China Campuses. We are also benchmarking our efforts with international standard by being as the Institutional Member of Athena SWAN Charter, UK where Faculty of Science had successfully won an Athena SWAN Bronze Award, which was the first international award outside UK in 2014. We hope additional awards will be won by our other faculties from Athena SWAN Charter in the near future.
Last but not least, I hope our activities will facilitate the achievement of your professional development objectives.
GEN Vice-Chair
I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize the role of GEN in the university. This is not just about women’s voices. Being one of the sustainable development goals set by United Nation, gender equality is not just about celebrating International Women’s Day, but a practice that we should promote and embed across the entire academic community.
‘Leakage’ of women and minorities from the talent pipeline has been a longstanding issue, and academic is no exception. University is a pivotal platform in determining the future talent pool, so we as academics should have taken this matter very seriously. Since its formation, the GEN committee (previously known as WinSET and Win) has taken different measurements and action plans to implement equality and inclusion holistically. There are mentoring program to provide more diverse supports for early career researchers, extensive statistical data collection to monitor career and study progressions, as well as newsletters to highlight women’s achievements and to motivate the younger generation.
We can definitely do more. Together we can make a difference.
Dr Siu Yee NEW
Dr Phei Li LAU
GEN Vice-Chair
Moral support is an aspect that orphans and women who are victims of abuse and had their rights violated badly. During the last ten years, there have been many changes in women’s status throughout the world. In particular we have seen an increase in women professionals who have excelled in their respective fields. A major hurdle to achieve gender equality is inequality in the work sector. Women are not always wiser than men and we do not all react in the same manner just because we are women.
But when women take their places in business and politics, and claim at least 40% of the total positions, a metamorphosis occurs which changes the definition of ”standard”. Ylva Johansson , a Swede Member of Parliament once said: “Sisterhood- is about women who consistently support each other, not just because we always think alike or because we all have the same agenda. We do neither.