Athena Swan

50%

Female students in 2023-2024 Business School cohorts

£1M

Provision of over £1M in scholarship funding to talented female applicants.

30%

Aim for all committees and advisory boards to comprise at least 30% gender representation.

The Athena Swan Charter is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education and research. Established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment, the Charter is now being used across the globe to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women.

At Imperial Business School, we aspire to provide a working environment that empowers all staff to reach their full potential. Gender equity has been a key pillar of the School’s strategy since 2014 and Imperial Business School was one of the first business schools to receive an Athena Swan bronze-level award in 2016. This was renewed in 2022.

For further information on the School’s Athena Swan work please read our renewal application.

“At Imperial Business School, gender equity is more than a goal - it's a commitment woven into our culture. We have made strides, but our journey continues, aiming to create a truly inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and the values of Athena Swan resonate in everything we do.”

Karen Tweddle

Director, Education Quality - Athena Swan Lead

What it means at Imperial College Business School

At Imperial College Business School, we aspire to provide a working environment that empowers all staff to reach their full potential. Gender equity has been a key pillar of the School’s strategy since 2014 and Imperial College Business School was one of the first business schools to receive an Athena Swan bronze-level award in 2016. This was renewed in 2022.

Key Business School initiatives:

Female focused information sessions, recruitment and networking events for MSc and MBA candidates.
Increased volume of female student profiles used as role-models and success stories.
A compulsory ‘Inclusive Teaching’ training course for new junior faculty, a section on Inclusive Teaching in our Teaching Guide and an annual Teaching Excellence Award for Inclusive Teaching.
The Elsie Widdowson Fellowship Award (EWF) relieves faculty of teaching and service activities for 12 months upon their return to work following parental leave.
Factors like caring responsibilities are considered during the construction of teaching timetables alongside an aim for all Business School meetings to take place between family-friendly hours of 10-4.
‘Imperial Portraits’ raise awareness of diverse role models across the School.

Networking at the 2022 Business School annual conference

Professional Interest Networks

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