Equal opportunities and gender equality
Blekinge Institute of Technology’s preventive work on equal opportunities and gender equality
In line with our vision to be “globally relevant and recognized through dual excellence, where academic distinction and societal benefit are united in strong educational and research environments,” and our mission to be a “Responsible university where excellence, equal treatment, sustainability, ethics, and accountability permeate all activities,” we work purposefully to promote equal opportunities and to integrate gender equality perspectives throughout the organization.
We have zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, offensive behaviour, threats, violence, and reprisals, and everyone should be able to study in a safe and respectful environment.
Policies and Strategies
Blekinge Institute of Technology’s work on equal opportunities and gender equality is based on the Discrimination Act, the Work Environment Act, and guiding frameworks such as Agenda 2030, Sweden’s national gender equality objectives, as well as BTH’s own governing documents:
- Plan for Equal Opportunities and Gender Equality, which outlines goals, priorities, and measures related to equal treatment, gender equality, and accessibility.
- Policy for Work Environment, Equal Opportunities and Gender Equality, which defines the approach and shared principles that guide BTH’s work in matters concerning the work environment, equal opportunities, and gender equality.
These documents provide direction for BTH’s long-term efforts and clarify how gender equality and equal opportunities are integrated into education, research, and the organization as a whole.
Responsibility and Organization
The work on promote equal opportunities and gender equality is a shared responsibility and is carried out in collaboration between employees, students, and others active at BTH. At the same time, certain functions have specific roles:
- The Vice-Chancellor holds the overall responsibility for ensuring compliance with legal requirements and internal objectives.
- Managers and Heads of Department are responsible for integrating equal opportunities and gender equality into daily operations.
- The Coordinator for Equal Opportunities and Gender Equality leads development efforts, follows up on measures, and provides support in the preventive work with active measures.
- The Human Resources Office supports managers in this work, develops routines, ensures that processes comply with legislation and internal guidelines, and provides guidance on matters related to discrimination and harassment for managers and employees.
- Student Support work with students’ rights, accessibility, and support measures related to discrimination and harassment.
Systematic management with active measures
The work with active measures at BTH is part of our long‑term efforts to promote equal rights and opportunities for both students and employees. It is a systematic and continuous process carried out throughout the year, aimed at preventing discrimination and creating a safe and inclusive environment. The management follows four steps:
- Investigate
Identify risks and obstacles to equal rights and opportunities through, for example, surveys, dialogues, statistics, and mapping activities.
- Analyze
Assess the underlying causes of the identified risks or issues and determine which measures should be prioritized.
- Take measures
Plan and implement preventive and promotive actions that reduce risks and strengthen equal opportunities and gender equality.
- Follow up and evaluate
Evaluate the measures taken and ensure that the work leads to improvements that can be further developed in the coming years
Action Plans 2025-2026
To support the practical work on equal opportunities and gender equality, two action plans are in place, providing concrete guidance for the implementation of active measures:
- Action Plan for BTH as an Education Provider
- Action Plan for BTH as an Employer
The action plans specify measures, responsibilities, and follow‑up procedures for a defined time period. Plan and action plans ensure that the work is conducted systematically, in a goal-oriented way and in accordance with current legislation.
Incident Procedures
Despite our active and preventive efforts, situations may still arise in which someone feels exposed or subjected to inappropriate behaviour. When this happens, BTH has clear procedures to ensure that the situation is handled in a safe and legally secure manner. You can find information about how we respond to incidents on a separate page, which we link to here: Discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Opens in new window.
