Our work on SDG Goal 5: Gender Equality
Learn about our recent progress and updates on how we're contributing to SDG 5: Gender Equality.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2015 by all United Nations member states. It provides a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.
Find out more about our work across all the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
About Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Research
Gamechanger: Empowering game makers to make more diverse video games
Research by the University of Stirling explores the barriers women face in gaming, revealing how gendered attitudes toward leisure lead to feelings of guilt, secrecy, and exclusion - despite women now making up nearly half of all gamers.
This work helps video game developers make more informed, inclusive design choices, with players benefiting both from increased awareness and from changes in industry practice. By challenging stereotypes and promoting more equitable participation in digital spaces, this research directly supports SDG 5: Gender Equality.
Gender pay gap underestimated in official statistics
Researchers at the University of Stirling, in collaboration with national partners, have revealed that the UK’s gender pay gap has been consistently underestimated for over 20 years due to flaws in official data collection. Their study found that smaller, private sector firms - where pay gaps are often wider - were underrepresented in surveys, leading to misleading national statistics. By applying a more representative weighting method, the team demonstrated that the true gender pay gap is larger than previously reported.
This research supports SDG 5 by highlighting systemic inequalities in pay and advocating for more accurate data to inform fairer wage policies and gender equity in the workplace.
Learning and teaching
Gender Studies
The University’s MLitt, MSc Genders and Sexualities course equips students with skills in gender and sexuality research, underpinned by feminist and queer theory. Students study gender, queer practices and identities in various disciplines, including media and film studies, history, literary studies, sociological analysis and curation theory.
The course covers gender and sexual practices and identities globally. Students benefit from the wide range of connections available through the University for work placement opportunities with some of the leading feminist organisations, and organisations advocating LGBTQ+ rights across the third sector.
Scholarships for women
To tackle gender inequality Stirling offers scholarships specifically for women in underrepresented areas including football scholarships for women, and Dr Dee Amy-Chin Gender Studies Scholarship.
The University of Stirling offers talented student footballers tailored packages to support them to compete and train at the highest possible level whilst undertaking an academic degree, , and the scholarship for the MSc Genders and Sexualities is funded by the family of our much-loved and much-missed colleague Dr Dee Amy-Chinn. Stirling has also contributed to the British Council-run Women in STEM scholarships.
University operations
Gender Pay Gap Report
Inclusion is at the heart of our People Strategy, and we are proud to have taken a deliberate and sustained approach to tackling inequalities in pay and conditions. As a result, we have consistently narrowed our gender pay gap (PDF link) since 2016 - a clear indicator of our progress towards a fairer, more equitable workplace.
We’ve seen a narrowing in both our median and mean gender pay gaps since our 2020 report. The median pay gap has narrowed in relative terms, by over 40% from 18.61% to 10.89% from 2020 to 2024. The average pay of female staff at the University has increased between 2022 and 2024 by over 10%. We recognise there is more to do and are determined to build on the progress we’ve made.
Athena Swan Institutional Silver Award
The University is one of only 34 institutions in the UK and four in Scotland to have achieved Athena Swan Silver at an institutional level, recognising our commitment to advancing gender equality across the university. The University of Stirling was awarded an institutional Athena Swan Silver award in 2024, validating our ongoing work and commitment to gender equality and inclusion. This award recognises that the university has embedded Athena Swan principles in our policies, practices, and culture.
Several faculties and divisions also have Athena Swan awards. Our Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, and our Biological and Environmental Sciences division each have silver awards and our Faculty of Social Sciences, Stirling Business School, Institute of Aquaculture and Psychology divisions hold bronze awards.
Aurora Women in Leadership
Over the last two years, the University has continued to support staff to attend Advance HE’s Aurora programme. Aurora plays a vital role in developing women into leadership roles at Stirling and in advancing our commitment to gender equality. For 2024-25 and 2025-26, we offered a limited number of fully funded places, targeted in areas where investing in female leadership potential will have the most impact. This reflects Aurora’s purpose as a “leadership ignition journey, inspiring women to aspire and achieve leadership positions within higher education,” and directly supports our Strategic Plan 2030 ambitions to enable colleagues to develop and sustain fulfilling careers and deliver excellence whatever their role, through targeted training and development.
Civic engagement
16 days of activism
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign running annually from 25 November to 10 December, uniting individuals and organisations in over 180 countries to raise awareness, strengthen local action, and share strategies to end violence against women. Stirling University participated in the campaign bringing in external charities such as Women’s Aid to educate attendees on understanding coercive control and united steps, strong voices led by the Feminist for Equity Movement Society, this walk around the loch raises awareness for gender-based violence. Both events were delivered in November 2024.
The Women, Housing and Place Symposium at the University of Stirling brought together academics, activists, and civic organisations to explore how gender intersects with housing, place, and policy. Alongside researchers, participants including One Parent Families Scotland contributed to exploring lived experience, advocacy, and community insight. This event exemplifies Stirling’s commitment to SDG 5 by fostering civic engagement, amplifying underrepresented voices, and promoting inclusive, gender-aware approaches to housing and social policy.