For many years, the University has participated in projects and actions affecting changes in women's careers.
We organize meetings at which we emphasize the important role of women in science, and together we encourage female students to take an interest in a research career - introducing them to its glories, shadows and challenges. Thanks to this, the employment of women in particular groups of scientists has been steadily increasing. Currently, women constitute a slight majority - 51 percent - of all people employed at TUL - explains the Rector of Lodz University of Technology, Professor Krzysztof Jóźwik.
The "Dziewczyny na politechniki" and "Women in Tech" campaigns, conducted for 14 years in cooperation with the Perspektywy Educational Foundation, have resulted not only in an increase in the number of female students at the University, but also in the number of women with degrees and academic titles. Currently, 39 percent of doctoral students are women and the same proportion of academic teachers is female. Among post-doctoral fellows we have 35 percent female scientists, while among professors, women account for 25 percent.
A significant part of scientific achievements at Lodz University of Technology is due to women, who constitute almost 40 percent of the scientific and research staff.
Women conduct innovative research and are team leaders. They are also found in the University's governance group. Among the nine deans, four are women. Recently two female researchers from TUL have been awarded for their contribution to the intelligent development of the country. Professor Beata Kolesińska from the Faculty of Chemistry and dr inż. Katarzyna Znajdek from the Faculty of Electrical, Electronic, Computer and Control Engineering have been awarded the "Meritorious for Intelligent Development" distinction for the first time. This is an exceptional and very ennobling distinction.
According to Perspektywy in their report "Women in Science", the data published by UNESCO shows that in Poland, as in many European countries, women account for 60 percent of all people studying at the first cycle. Women also dominate among students of doctoral studies, but they are a minority among researchers. Women are also fewer among practitioners in almost all scientific disciplines.
Almost 40 percent of students at Lodz University of Technology are women, 45 percent of doctoral students. I hope that this growing number will soon translate into further careers of women at Lodz University of Technology. On the occasion of the International Women and Girls in Science Day, I wish you all further scientific and professional success - adds the Rector.