athena swan charter: what it is and how it helps promote gender equality
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Athena SWAN Charter: what it is and how it helps promote gender
equality
What is the Athena SWAN Charter?
A scheme to recognise excellence in science, engineering and technology
employment for women in higher education and research institutes
Why it matters
• The advancement of science, engineering and technology is fundamental to quality of life across the globe
• It is vitally important that women are adequately represented in what has traditionally been, and is still, a male-dominated area
• Science, engineering and technology cannot reach their full potential unless they can benefit from all the talents
The Tipping Point
• Biosciences – 2015
• Chemistry – 2038
• Physics – 2102
• Mathematics - 2237
Charter Principles1. To address gender inequalities requires commitment and action
from everyone, at all levels of the organisation2. To tackle the unequal representation of women in science requires
changing cultures and attitudes across the organisation3. The absence of diversity at management and policy-making levels
has broad implications which the organisation will examine4. The high loss rate of women in science is an urgent concern which
the organisation will address5. The system of short-term contracts has particularly negative
consequences for the retention and progression of women in science, which the organisation recognises
6. There are both personal and structural obstacles to women making the transition from PhD into a sustainable academic career in science, which require the active consideration of the organisation
What does SWAN membership involve?
• Engagement, involvement and commitment of science community at all levels
• Demonstrable activity linked to clear thinking, based on facts and figures, producing measurable change
• Not a competition, but the shared development and identification of good practice that works
How does it work?
1. Letter of commitment from senior member of university
2. Enter for an institutional Bronze award within 2 years
3. Enter for Silver and Gold awards 4. Thematic events and opportunities for
sharing good practice and networking
Key features
• No fee but the investment of time• Encompasses universities and
departments• Not ticking the boxes but thinking and
opening up discussion• Demonstrable and progressive
commitment and achievement
Which universities are members?
• Aston University• University of Bath• University of Bedfordshire• University of Bristol• Brunel University• University of Cambridge • Cardiff University• University of Central Lancashire• De Montfort University• University of Edinburgh• Edinburgh Napier University• Heriot-Watt University• Imperial College London• The Institute for Cancer Research• Keele University• King's College London• University of Lancaster• University of Leeds• University of Leicester• University of Lincoln• University of Liverpool• London Southbank University• Loughborough University
• Manchester Metropolitan University• University of Manchester• Newcastle University• University of Nottingham• University of Oxford• Oxford Brookes University• University of Plymouth• Queen Mary, University of London• Queen's University Belfast• University of Reading• Royal Holloway College• Sheffield Hallam University• University of Sheffield • University of Southampton• University of Strathclyde• University of Sunderland• Swansea University• University College London• University of Warwick• University of Westminster• University of York
Awards
• Bronze (universities)• Silver (departments and universities)• Gold (departments and universities)
Preparing an Award Application
• Previous examples• Collect information• Consult widely• Attend a workshop • Self assessment team
Self Assessment Team
• Men and women• Personal experience of work/life balance/career breaks/flexible working• Dual career family• Recent experience of promotion/recruitment procedures• Different stages of career ladder and all levels• Equal opportunities experience• Senior managers
Judging process
• Written submissions read by a panel of 4 - 5 experts
• Judges meet in June and July to discuss merits of award submissions and make decisions about awards
• Detailed, constructive feedback given to all members who have submitted for an award, including those who have failed to meet the level required
What do the awards look for?
Collection and analysis of gender data (including gender in SET)Positive action to recruit and retain women in SET and promote them to the most senior levelsSupportive organisational cultureSystematic consideration of gender issues in policy and procedureRepresentation of women on influential committeesInitiatives to support work-life balance
Who has won awards?Gold • University of York, Department of Chemistry
Silver • University of Bristol, Department of Biochemistry• University of Bristol, Department of Physiology and
Pharmacology• University of Edinburgh, Department of Chemistry • Imperial College, London, Department of Chemical
Engineering• Imperial College, London, Department of Chemistry• Imperial College, London, National Heart and Lung
Institute• Imperial College, London, Department of Physics• Keele University, School of Life Sciences• Keele University, School of Physical and
Geographical Sciences• University of Manchester, Faculty of Life Sciences
• University of Nottingham, School of Biosciences• University of Nottingham, School of Pharmacy• University of Nottingham, School of Psychology • University of Nottingham, Department of
Mechanicals, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering
• University of Plymouth, Faculty of Technology• Queen’s University Belfast• Queen’s University Belfast, School of Biological
Sciences• University of Reading, School of Construction
Management and Engineering• University College, London, Department of
Chemical Engineering• University College, London, Department of Civil,
Environmental and Geomatic Engineering• University College London, Medical Research
Council Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology• University College, London, Division of Psychology
and Language Sciences• University of York, Department of Biology• University of York, Department of Psychology
Who has won awards?Bronze • University of Bath• University of Bedfordshire• University of Bristol • University of Cambridge• Cardiff University • University of Edinburgh • Heriot-Watt University• Imperial College, London• Institute of Cancer Research • Keele University • King's College London• Lancaster University • University of Leeds• University of Leicester
• Loughborough University• University of Manchester• Newcastle University• University of Nottingham • University of Oxford• University of Plymouth • Queen Mary, University of London• University of Reading• University of Sheffield • University of Southampton • University of Sunderland • Swansea University• University College, London • University of York
Why universities want to join
• Employer of choice• Demonstrates commitment to gender equality• Enhances organisation’s reputation• Publicises and shares good practice• Brings together existing initiatives and stimulates change• Individual, expert feedback on progress• Networks of contacts• Benchmarking against other universities• Achievements profiled on Athena SWAN website
University of York – Gold award for
Chemistry Department
Achievements• Higher percentage of female academics than
national average for chemistry• Significant increase in number of female senior
lecturers and professors• Appointment of Graduate and Postdoctoral
Training Officer• Job adverts always emphasise a family friendly
policy
University of York – Gold award for
Chemistry Department
Changing the culture
• Female membership on all key committees• Department eschews traditional ‘competitive culture’ and values
quality of research over quantity• Seminars to promote non-standard academic career pathways in
seminars • Celebrate prominent women scientists from the department• Invite female chemists as external speakers• Encourage female staff to contribute to departmental and university
publications
Next steps
Publications
• Annual Reports
• Good practice factsheets
• Awards case studies
Thank you