Gender equality, diversity and equal conditions
The work for change for gender equality, diversity and equal conditions at KTH is called JML. Gender equality and the rejection of all forms of discrimination are both a quality-assurance issue and a self-evident component of KTH’s core values.
Our mission
The JML work at the university is based on government directives as well as internal policy documents that indicate the work going forward for both the exercise of authority and change work. KTH has two main missions regarding Gender equality, Diversity and Equal conditions at the university. The first is the mission to work actively with anti-discrimination, both as an employer and as an education provider. The second task is Gender equality integration, where universities and colleges must have plans for how the institution intends to integrate gender equality into regular decision-making forums and work processes. KTH also has its own goals and steering documents that guide the work with JML, such as KTH's vision and overall goals 2024–2028 and KTH's ethical policy.
Discrimination
The most important points in the Discrimination Act from a student perspective are:
- The purpose of the legislation is to counteract discrimination and in other ways promote equal rights and opportunities regardless of gender, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation, or age.
- According to the Discrimination Act, higher education institutions are required to work proactively to prevent harassment. They must also promote equal rights for students and applicants through active measures.
- KTH is also required to investigate if there are any suspicions of discrimination or harassment.
Gender mainstreaming in institutions of higher education (JiHU)
The government mission JiHU states that higher education institutions shall contribute to attaining the national gender equality policy goals. The mission infers that KTH shall integrate a gender equality perspective in all its operations and identify development needs, goals and activities for achieving this. Measures and results are accounted for in the institution's annual reports. Since 2018 higher education institutions shall also account for how they take gender equality into account when dividing research funding.
The national gender equality policy goals (Swedish Gender Equality Agency website)
Plan for continued work for a gender equal KTH (KTH Intranet)
Equal education (Swedish Gender Equality Agency website)
Dare to care - consent in student life
KTH, with THS and RFSU, the Swedish Association for Sexual Education, has invested long-termly in RFSU's concept Dare to Care to promote consent in various study environments. Dare to Care is an investment that RFSU has primarily worked on so far, together with organisers of festivals and clubs, to promote mutual sexual encounters and counteract sexual abuse. This is done by opening up conversations about reciprocity and boundaries and encouraging active spectatorship - daring to act when you see something that doesn't feel right.
In KTH's environments, the investment means, among other things, that all sponsors who work with the reception of new students are trained to contribute to safer and more inclusive student events at KTH, and that special Dare to Care ambassadors are trained who will take the investment further to sections and associations within THS.
Want to know more?
Want to know more about the collaboration between KTH, THS and RFSU? Contact the KTH Equality office . You can also find more information about the Dare to Care initiative on RFSU's website: Dare to Care (rfsu.se) , or by watching the movie KTH Dare to Care .