SDG 5 Gender Equality: Stronger Together

The St. Pölten UAS is clearly committed to the UN’s Sustainability Goal 5:

“Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.” The importance of this goal is also reflected in the Statutes of the St. Pölten UAS where a section is dedicated specifically to gender equality and the promotion of women. For more than 5 years now, we have been actively addressing this topic, guided by our own Gender Equality Plan which supports our ongoing further development in this regard.

Measures for Equal Treatment and Participation

We engage in diverse activities and tackle the topic at different levels. We are working on…

• consistently counteracting discrimination and violence in a university context.
• improving the compatibility of working/studying and family responsibilities and recognising unpaid care work.
• promoting women in leading positions – their share has been continuously increased from 34% in 2019 to 45% in 2024.
• advancing health promotion for all genders.
• realising fair payment and the same economic resources.
• making all study programmes attractive for all genders, thus facilitating access to resources and digital participation.

Even Small Steps Contribute to Equality

Equality is reflected not only in large-scale strategies but also in small measures that can make a big difference in our everyday lives. An example: Tables for changing babies’ nappies are often found in women’s toilets only. The St. Pölten UAS has four all-gender toilets equipped with changing tables – a small step towards removing barriers and facilitating more participation.

Becoming Active Together – Calling on Everyone

It takes everyone’s commitment to achieve true gender equality. Concrete initiatives on campus show how diverse this work is: 

• 25 November marks the beginning of the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. A steering group is currently in the process of raising awareness and developing support offers for affected persons and witnesses.
• In December, we will once more publish (via Teamwork, etc.) the holiday childcare options 2026 and how parents can register for these. This offer is open to children aged 4-14 of UAS staff and students.
• In-house trainings, relevant courses, and public events offer possibilities for broadening one’s own horizon when it comes to the different aspects of equal treatment. 

If you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact Anna Steinberger and Kerstin Blumenstein at gender_diversity @fhstp.ac.at. 

About the SDG Topic Series

Within the framework of our SDG topic series, we dedicate ourselves to one of the 17 goals for sustainable development every week. The selected contributions serve as examples to illustrate how the St. Pölten UAS contributes to a sustainable future. In doing so, we highlight diverse issues – from poverty in old age and ‘AI for Green’ to strategic partnerships and networks. 

Read more about the sustainability topic at the St. Pölten UAS.