Women in Research Charter
The UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has introduced the Women in Research Charter. Wellcome is a founding signatory of the Charter.
The UK Government has demonstrated welcome leadership in introducing the Women in Research Charter, which aims to address persistent barriers that prevent women, particularly those with caring responsibilities, from progressing and thriving in research careers. The Charter sets out six clear themes:
- improved support for parents and carers
- ncreased transparency through data
- enabling flexible working
- tackling bias in assessment
- fostering inclusive research cultures
- sharing best practice across the sector.
The responsibility for the principles lies with institutions and funders.
Supporting equitable and inclusive research careers is central to Wellcome’s mission, and we have long embedded these principles in our funding. This includes consideration of diverse career paths in assessment, flexible working provisions, funding for parents and carers, and clear expectations on research culture, integrity and inclusion. We also want to acknowledge that while this Charter focuses on women, parents and carers are of all backgrounds, and Wellcome is committed to supporting all our researchers.
"Wellcome is pleased to be a founding signatory of the UK Government’s Women in Research Charter. Too many talented women still face barriers to progression, and this Charter sets out clear, practical steps to help address some of those challenges.
As a global funder, and we are committed to strengthening equity and inclusion in the UK and beyond, to support all researchers in their careers."
We are also signatories to key sector frameworks, including the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, and continue to work with partners globally to improve equity in research systems.
Wellcome is committed to meeting the obligations for funders as set out in the Charter and we will work with organisations we fund globally to improve equity in line with the principles of the Charter.
