The Polytechnic University of the Philippines advances SDG 5 through inclusive campus policies, gender-responsive curriculum integration, and active community advocacy led by student organizations and university offices. PUP maintains equal access and representation across all academic programs, actively promotes gender equity through specialized awareness campaigns, and equips its academic community with the values of diversity, non-discrimination, and social protection. This comprehensive approach combines institutional safeguards with practical student-led outreach to ensure a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for all members of the university.
Research initiatives contribute to SDG 5: Gender Equality by addressing gender-inclusive language, gender equity, equal representation, gender-based discrimination, and social inclusion. Research on epicene pronouns promotes fair and inclusive representation in academic communication, while the study of the gender-wage gap provides evidence for addressing pay disparities and strengthening gender-equal employment policies.
Research examining homophobia and LGBTQI+ exclusion further highlights the importance of addressing systemic discrimination and promoting equality regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Collectively, these studies support gender equality, inclusive representation, equal opportunities, non-discrimination, and social inclusion, contributing to the achievement of SDG 5: Gender Equality.
View all PUP Scopus Publication: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1IlfCKA2HmYBtj1VdI0Xa5Onbr3PBXHSA/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111253540786016308703&rtpof=true&sd=true
For the First Semester of AY 2024–2025, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) recorded a total enrollment of 27,425 female students (25,795.5 FTE), consisting of 24,168 regular and 3,255 irregular students across undergraduate and graduate programs. Cross-matching institutional database records from the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) with socio-economic survey data from the Institutional Development and Statistical Analysis (IDSA) identifies 2,569 first-generation female students by headcount (2,523.0 FTE), comprising 2,523 regular and 46 irregular students. Consequently, first-generation female learners represent 9.37% of total female student enrollment by headcount and 9.87% by FTE campus-wide. High concentrations of first-generation female students are observed in fields such as Real Estate Management (42.86%), Cooperatives (19.23%), Journalism (17.61%), Public Administration (16.74%), Elementary Education (16.34%), and Political Science (15.35%), underscoring PUP’s mission to expand gender-inclusive higher education access and social mobility.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines systematically tracks women’s application rate and acceptance rate. The table shows consistently high application and admission rates among women, reflecting PUP’s commitment to gender inclusivity and SDG 5: Gender Equality. The close alignment of these rates suggests equitable admission practices that promote equal access to higher education and opportunities for academic advancement regardless of gender.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines as a body has a policy that addresses women's applications, acceptance and entry, as well as participation in the university through Executive Order No. 20 PUP Diversity and Inclusion Policy, and Executive Order No. 07 PUP Gender Policy. These policies assure equal access to opportunities and eliminate gender-based discrimination. The University actively expands women's participation and representation, advancing its equitable involvement across academic, administrative, and institutional levels. Complementing this, Section 4 of the Diversity and Inclusion Policy reaffirms the University’s resolve to deliver inclusive, equitable, globally relevant polytechnic education that fuels national progress. These provisions strengthen equal opportunity, barrier-free participation, and dignity for all, embedding gender equity, inclusive growth, and systemic fairness into every stage of institutional workforce development and educational advancement.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) provides women's access to higher education through university-funded, privately funded, and government-funded scholarships and financial assistance administered by the Office of Scholarship and Financial Assistance under the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services. Women-focused opportunities include the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs Foundation, Inc. scholarship and the MpowHER: Meralco Scholarship Program for Women Engineers, supported by a Memorandum of Agreement. In AY 2023–2024, PUP recorded 2,535 and 2,814 female scholarship recipients in the first and second semesters, respectively. Free tuition benefited 25,299 female students in the first semester, 24,661 in the second, and 6,435 during summer. These provisions strengthen women's access to education and participation.
See the full list of Benefactors: List of Benefactors
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) encourages applications by women in traditionally underrepresented fields, particularly engineering, computer science, and technology, through its PUP Gender Policy, institutionalized Gender and Development (GAD) initiatives, peace-building, and human rights education campaigns. These programs foster gender-responsive education, equal opportunities, and inclusive academic participation. In the second semester of AY 2024–2025, 5,124 of 7,491 graduates (68.4%) were women, including 112 in Information Technology, 95 in Industrial Engineering, 80 in Railway Engineering Management, and 77 in Electronics Engineering. Female graduates were also represented in Psychology (259), Nutrition and Dietetics (60), Biology (109), Hospitality Management (187), and Tourism Management (230), demonstrating PUP's continued commitment to women's educational access and advancement.
Additionally, PUP exhibits strong Female Graduates on Health Related and Core-Focused Disciplines
Out of 845 female graduates across health-related and care-focused disciplines, BS Psychology leads with 259 graduates contributing to mental health promotion and psychosocial well-being, followed closely by BS Tourism Management with 230 graduates focusing on healthy lifestyles and well-being in tourism. BS Hospitality Management accounts for 187 graduates supporting safe service environments and healthy lifestyles, while BS Biology (Animal Track) contributes 109 graduates to health-related research and one health approaches. Additionally, BS Nutrition and Dietetics comprises 60 graduates dedicated to food security, healthy nutrition, and disease prevention. Together, these programs highlight the university's strong reinforcement of health workforce development and equitable access to health services.
In 2025, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) maintained an overall workforce of 3,806 employees, supported by a total academic staff of 970.5 Full-Time Equivalents (1,352 headcount, comprising 589 full-time and 763 part-time faculty across Main Campus colleges and the Graduate School). Among academic appointments, the University recorded 213 senior academic staff members institutional-wide, consisting of 162 full-time and 51 part-time senior faculty. Of these senior academic positions, 101 are held by female senior academic staff (77 full-time and 24 part-time), establishing a senior female academic representation rate of 47.42%. High levels of female academic leadership are demonstrated across academic units, led by the College of Education (75.00%; 12 of 16), the Graduate School (61.90%; 13 of 21), the College of Communication (58.33%; 7 of 12), and the College of Arts and Letters (52.17%; 12 of 23)[cite: 32, 33]. These figures demonstrate PUP’s sustained commitment to gender balance, fair professional advancement, and prominent female leadership across senior academic and administrative roles.
Out of 8,583 total graduates across the university, 5,552 are women, which leads to an overall female graduation rate of 64.69%. The Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences domain represents the largest share of the graduate population with 5,899 total graduates, where female graduates account for 4,100 or 69.50%, reflecting significant female representation in disciplines like education, business, social sciences, and the arts. In science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields totaling 2,684 graduates, women account for 1,452 graduates or 54.10%, demonstrating balanced, majority-female participation even within traditional technical and engineering pathways. Meanwhile, Medicine is recorded as 0 (N/A) because the institution does not offer standalone undergraduate Medical Doctor programs under its current WUR-aligned programmatic scope. Overall, the data highlights women comprising nearly two-thirds of the university's graduating cohort, with robust representation spanning across both humanities and technical STEM fields.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) has a policy of non-discrimination against women. It institutionalizes non-discrimination against women through Executive Order No. 7, Series of 2023 (PUP Gender Policy) and Executive Order No. 20, Series of 2023 (Diversity and Inclusion Policy), consistent with Republic Act No. 9710 (Magna Carta of Women). These policies promote gender equality, gender responsiveness, and equal participation across university operations, curriculum development, research, and extension programs. The 2019 PUP Student Handbook, Title II, Section 1.2, protects students, including pregnant learners, against discriminatory admission, exclusion, and denial of scholarships or services. Chapter 6 of the PUP Faculty Manual further documents faculty rights, privileges, and benefits. Executive Order No. 20, series of 2023, particularly Sections 8 and 9, reinforces equitable opportunities, fair selection, respect for gender identity, appropriate pronoun usage, and gender-neutral dress codes. Together, these institutional provisions establish protections against discrimination within the university community.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines institutionalizes its goal to create an inclusive environment through Executive Order No. 20, Series of 2023 (Diversity and Inclusion Policy). This policy includes respecting the self-identified pronouns of everyone as well as implementing gender-neutral dress codes that are not based on traditional gender norms.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) supports women's participation in academic and professional employment through Republic Act No. 11210 (105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law) and Republic Act No. 8187 (Paternity Leave Act), Section 3. Under RA 11210, covered female faculty members and non-teaching personnel are entitled to 105 days of maternity leave with full pay, regardless of civil status, employment status, length of service, or the legitimacy of the child, with an additional 15 days of paid leave for qualified solo parents. RA 8187 provides statutory paternity leave for eligible fathers, supporting shared parental responsibilities. These protections enable women to recover from childbirth and undertake early childcare without unnecessary interruption to teaching, research, administrative duties, or professional development. By observing these laws, PUP promotes family-responsive employment practices, protects employee welfare, and addresses maternity-related barriers to women's continued academic participation.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) supports student parents through its Day Care Program under the Extension Management Office, which provides childcare services for children within the university community. As of 2024, there has been a record of 65 students who have used these childcare facilities. To strengthen these provisions, the Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Office, in coordination with the Physical Planning and Development Office, is working toward incorporating a dedicated childminding facility and lactation room into the new Main Campus building project. These initiatives demonstrate PUP's commitment to family-responsive services intended to reduce caregiving barriers and support students' continued participation in higher education.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) provides childcare support for its employees through the PUP Day Care Program under the Extension Management Office, promoting early childhood development and family-responsive employee welfare, and as of 2024, there has been recorded 65 staffs who used the said facilities. To ensure a systemic use of the facility, a pre-registration for the facility use is being implemented. Additionally, the said facilities is being developed to incorporate a childminding facility and lactation room into the new Main Campus building. These existing services and planned facilities support PUP's efforts to address employees' childcare needs and promote work-life balance.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), through its Institutional Planning Office, monitors women's academic completion using cohort-based enrollment and graduation records. For the 2019 intake cohort, 4,614 of 7,313 female students graduated, representing approximately 63%. The presentation also reports that 5,583 of 8,294 female students from the 2020 intake cohort graduated, representing approximately 67%. These records demonstrate institutional monitoring of women's educational attainment and degree completion. PUP also identifies non-discriminatory admissions, scholarship and financial assistance programs, and an inclusive academic environment as institutional measures intended to support women's academic persistence and completion.
The CODI Manual was approved by the Board of Regents during its 173rd meeting on June 25, 2021. This manual is a testament to the University's unwavering dedication to fostering a safe, healthy, and gender-equal environment for all members of the PUP community.
The manual is a codification of all existing laws and CSC rules on cases involving sexual harassment. It supplements the PUP Student Handbook for student disciplinary cases involving sexual harassment and provides the penalties depending on the acts committed by a student.
Furthermore, the committee is composed of a diverse group of representatives, including members from the faculty, administrative staff, student body, and the Gender Equity, Diversity, and Social Inclusion Office. This varied composition ensures fairness, impartiality, and comprehensive protection for individuals who report discrimination. To safeguard the rights and well-being of victims, the committee, headed by the university’s Chief Legal Counsel, holds the authority to impose temporary restraining orders on the cause, providing immediate protection while cases are being reviewed.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) maintains a robust portfolio of publications and documentation highlighting its active contributions, institutional initiatives, and community-driven projects aligned with global sustainability standards. To explore the university's comprehensive commitments, ongoing projects, and strategic milestones dedicated to advancing each of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), browse the sections below:
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) regularly publishes and communicates its institutional progress, research output, and administrative milestones aligned with SDG 5 through official university publications. As documented in the institutional evidence catalogue below, PUP highlights its active contributions towards the advancement of Gender Equality.
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