Equal opportunities and gender equality
At Örebro University, no individual or group is to be excluded and there is zero tolerance of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, victimisation and reprisals. Our focus is to create conditions that make it possible for anyone to pursue their studies or career with us.
Örebro University's goals for equal opportunities and gender equality 2026-2030 are:
- The proportion of female professors will increase in subject areas where women are underrepresented, and a more equal representation of women and men will be achieved through measures in recruitment, promotion and resource allocation
- Decision-making processes and career development opportunities should be perceived as equal, accessible, and without prejudice
- Örebro University works systematically with equal opportunities (active measures according to the Discrimination Act) and documents the work
- Örebro University works systematically to integrate gender equality and equal opportunities in its activities and to contribute to fulfilling goals and legislation linked to gender equality and equal opportunities
‘Equal opportunities and gender equality’ – an umbrella term
Örebro University’s efforts on social sustainability and social justice sorts under the work with ‘equal opportunities’ and ‘gender equality’. ‘Equal opportunities’ refers to justice for everyone at the university, on the basis of the definitions found in the Discrimination Act. ‘Gender equality’ means equal rights and opportunities for men and women and takes its departure from the goals laid down by national gender equality policy. Equal opportunities and gender equality are two different concepts that have a lot in common and the work within the two fields are often coordinated at the university.
As a university, our responsibility is both that of an employer and that of an educator when it comes to working with active measures as defined in the Discrimination Act. This impacts our work with equal opportunities – meaning that everyone at the university must be allowed to come into their own and not be subjected to discrimination as it is defined by the seven grounds of discrimination in the Discrimination Act.
Örebro University is also working with gender equality, which is a well-known perspective focusing on sex but which also considers what are known as intersectional aspects. This means that anyone of us is not just a person of a specific sex, but we are also influenced by other factors such as ethnicity, disability, age or socioeconomic status. Our efforts pertain to the content and execution of courses and study programmes; the conditions for and career pathways within research; and the overall management and governance processes.
With more gender equality at Örebro University, the quality of our operations will improve as the competence, perspectives and contributions of both men and women will be harnessed and utilised. It will also promote learning for all students at the university and facilitate equal career opportunities. Gender equality and equal opportunities are key concepts for any university that attaches great importance to quality and justice.
Goals and activities
Our work on various gender equality issues (such as equal career paths for men and women, gender-based violence and victimisation, or equal allocation of research funding between men and women) is to meet the government remit assigned to Örebro University and other higher education institutions to contribute to the attainment of the gender equality policy goals. Our goals and activities have been designed to meet the legislation and requirements at national and international levels and have been adapted to the specific challenges we face.
Read more about our gender equality and equal opportunities efforts in the document Gender equality plan 2026-2030. The document is being translated and will be available soon.
