Ministry of Education launches gender-friendly dormitory manual into safety and management planning

When universities promote gender-friendly dormitories and toilets, in addition to physical facilities, they also need to consider who will use them, how to ensure safety and follow-up management. The Ministry of Education stated that in August this year, it issued the "Reference Manual for the Construction of Gender-Friendly Dormitories in Colleges and Universities" to provide schools with planning basis and encourage schools to gradually review and improve living spaces based on student needs and campus environment.

Lin Peiyu, section chief of the Special Education Department of the Ministry of Education, pointed out that the campus environment is closely related to students' learning and life. Gender-friendly spaces cannot only be thought of in terms of hardware construction, but must also take into account user needs, space planning, safety and management, so that the concept of gender equality can be implemented in the daily environment.

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The Ministry of Education held the "115-Year Gender-Friendly Space Seminar on College and University Campuses" today (16th) and October 20th respectively at the National Taiwan University of Arts and Kaohsiung Medical University, inviting relevant administrative staff such as academic affairs, gender equality education committees, and general affairs of colleges and universities. Participate in and enhance schools’ understanding of gender-friendly space concepts, policies and practices through special lectures, case sharing and comprehensive exchanges, help schools master the planning principles and promotion strategies of gender-friendly toilets and dormitories, and jointly create a safe, respectful and friendly campus environment.

In terms of planning guidelines, the Ministry of Education first issued a letter on April 23, 2024, to issue the "Reference Manual for Gender-Friendly Toilet Installation on Campuses of Colleges and Universities", and then issued a letter on August 26 this year to issue a reference manual for dormitory construction, which will assist schools in planning, extending from toilets to accommodation spaces. The electronic files of the two manuals are placed on the Ministry of Education’s Gender Equality Education Global Information Network for schools to download and use.

The planning of dormitories and toilets also involves the division of labor between different on-campus units. The Ministry of Education invites relevant administrative staff such as academic affairs, gender equality education committees, and general affairs of colleges and universities to understand planning principles and promotion strategies, and to assist schools in thinking from aspects such as student life, gender equality, and facility management.

Bi Hengda, a professor at National Taiwan University, explained the relevant concepts and practical practices based on the planning and construction principles of gender-friendly dormitories; Lin Meijun, dean of Taiwan Normal University, shared his experience in promoting a safe and gender-free campus environment and provided reference for campus environment and safe space inspection.

The Ministry of Education stated that it will continue to encourage schools to improve their space according to their own conditions and students' needs through guidelines and reference manuals, and integrate gender equality into campus environment planning and management to create a safe, respectful, friendly and gender-free learning environment.