Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology wins Engineers Australia gender diversity award

The University's Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) has been named Most Encouraging Non-For-Profit Group in Gender Diversity for 2021 by Engineers Australia.

FEIT was recognised by Engineers Australia's National Committee for Women in Engineering for pursuing initiatives that strive towards national engineering excellence in encouraging gender diversity.

FEIT has made increasing female representation among academic staff and encouraging female student participation in engineering and IT one of its key priorities.

In 2018, FEIT became the first engineering and IT faculty in Australia to recruit a round of female-only continuing teaching and research positions, which included female-identifying and non-binary applicants.

FEIT has seen a strong increase in female representation among academic staff, rising from 17 per cent in 2018 to 23 per cent in 2020.

In 2019, the faculty also achieved gender parity among its Level B academics for the first time, and has ambitious targets to extend gender parity to all levels of academic staff in future years.

FEIT's trailblazing push to recruit a round of female-only continuing teaching and research positions has made an impact beyond the advertised positions, boosting female participation and success across the board.

Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion in FEIT Professor Elaine Wong said one of the main reasons the female-only round made such an impact was it sent a strong signal to future applicants that the faculty supports gender equity.

"That single round attracted very high-calibre applicants and encouraged more women to apply to open roles offered thereafter," Professor Wong said.

"In hindsight, the campaign seeded a change in our workplace culture."

FEIT also provides a bespoke mentoring program and family grants to attend meetings and conferences to all staff.

Recognising the challenges in encouraging young women to study engineering and IT, FEIT also runs a number of initiatives and programs, including those for high school students: Girl Power in Engineering and IT, and the Girls Programming Network Challenge.

The faculty also offers a number of dedicated scholarships and awards for female students at all levels.