Irène Curie Policy Boosts Female Researchers at TU/e
The Irène Curie Policy at Eindhoven University of Technology has increased the number of female researchers from 22% to 29% over five years, enhancing gender equality and research quality.
Significant Increase in Female Researchers
The Irène Curie Policy, implemented at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), has resulted in a substantial increase in the number of female researchers over the past five years. The policy’s primary aim is to promote gender equality and improve research quality. Since its introduction, the number of women on TU/e’s permanent academic staff has risen from 134 to 208. This notable increase has pushed the percentage of women in academic staff positions, including professors, associate professors, and assistant professors, from 22% to 29% [1].
The Irène Curie Program
A key feature of the Irène Curie Fellowship (ICF) program is that for designated academic vacancies, only women can apply during the first six months of the recruitment process. This bold move sparked international attention when it was first introduced. The objective is not only to foster equal appreciation and opportunities for women and men but also to enhance the quality of teaching and research. Scientific evidence supports that a diverse workforce tends to develop better strategies, generate more creative ideas, and drive faster innovation [1].
Leadership’s Perspective
Robert-Jan Smits, President of the Executive Board, praised the program for attracting top female talent from around the globe, significantly improving gender balance, and positively changing the culture around diversity. ‘This program has enabled us to attract a lot of top female talent from all over the world,’ Smits stated. ‘We are proud of that, and it has inspired other institutions to also come up with innovative plans. However, we are not going to rest on our laurels: we want every department to achieve at least thirty percent. We are going to work hard on that over the next five years’ [1].
Future Goals
The university’s future goals include ensuring that every department reaches at least 30% female representation. Achieving this percentage is significant because it marks the threshold at which a minority no longer remains a minority but gains a full-fledged position and influence. To reach this target, TU/e plans to continue offering Irène Curie vacancies in departments that lack sufficient female representation on their permanent academic staff. Additionally, all female startups in these departments will receive a startup package of €100,000 to help launch their research and offset the disadvantages they face as a minority [1].
Support Networks and Retention Efforts
The Irène Curie network will reinforce these efforts by pairing newcomers with an ‘Irène Curie friend,’ an experienced scientist who can guide them within TU/e and the Dutch academic landscape. Moreover, the university plans to focus more on retaining female talent, as data shows that women tend to leave the institution at higher rates than men. TU/e will enhance its efforts to change the institutional culture and provide better facilities and career advancement opportunities to support female researchers [1].