SDG 5 Gender Equality :: University of Waikato

Gender Equality Plan

We have a Gender Equality Plan that sets out our commitment to gender equality for students and staff and in our research and teaching.

The plan summarises the policies, resources and initiative that are in place to further this goal.

Workplace Integrity

We have zero tolerance for bullying, harassment and discrimination.

We also have a robust protected disclosure policy to make it easy and safe for staff and students to anonymously report issues.

Support

Our parental leave policy provides six weeks paid leave in addition to that provided by the Government.

We have many generous scholarships for women.

Women's Access and Success

In 2024 women made up 60% of students starting a degree and 59% of the degrees we awarded.

Our qualification completion rate for female students in 2024 was 75%, compared to 72% for male students. (based on Tertiary Education Commission EPI data for 2024 for the full-time Level 7 degree cohort). Where there is a gender gap in student success, we have student learning initiatives in place to ensure equitable achievement.

51% of female applicants received unconditional offers in 2024 compared to 35% of male applicants.

	2022	2023	2024
Female applicants receiving unconditional offers	47%	48%	51%
Male applicants receiving unconditional offers	30%	29%	35%
Female students starting a degree - percentage of all students	63%	64%	60%
Female students completing a degree - percentage of total graduates	63%	63%	59%
Qualification completion rate for female students	70%	70%	75%
Qualification completion rate for male students	65%	63%	72%

Programme to support emerging women leaders

Since its launch in 2021, the Waikato Women in Leadership programme has helped emerging women leaders across the University develop leadership capabilities and enhance their networks. The year-long programme combines one-on-one mentoring, peer group mentoring and workshops on topics ranging from cultural leadership to communications and career planning.

Wāhine Student Mentoring and Support

At the University of Waikato, female and female-identifying students can engage in diverse student clubs, spanning Business, Law, Sports, and STEM fields. These clubs offer crucial support for women, offering mentorship, networking opportunities, skills workshops, and social gatherings. This empowers women to thrive in their studies, fostering a sense of community and promoting the exchange of expertise.

Women leading resilience against climate change

In 2024, research by the University of Waikato found that women play a central role in how resilient Tonga and Samoa will be to the impacts of climate change. The research engaged over 800 people, including female leaders of villages, academia, business and government, with many saying women are taking on new responsibilities such as physical work in the plantations, technical work in electrical infrastructure, captaining ferries and large container ships, and setting up new disaster preparedness groups, while the men in their villages travel overseas for long periods of time.

Spotlight on health of female athletes

Waikato researchers have been investigating chronic energy deficiency amongst elite female athletes for many years, joining forces to lend their expertise to High Performance Sport New Zealand through an initiative called Healthy Women in Performance Sport. This initiative brings together a multi-disciplinary team of experts to support women in sport to protect their health and wellbeing while striving for high performance. They tackle issues ranging from energy deficiency to menstrual irregularity, ACL injuries and pregnancy.