Athena SWAN

Advance HE’s Athena SWAN Charter was established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research. We are proud to be a Department that puts equality and diversity at the heart of everything we do, and as an Athena SWAN Silver Award holder we continue to develop and drive initiatives that support gender equality. 

We are committed to achieving and upholding the Athena SWAN Charter Principles:

1. Embedding diversity, equity and inclusion in our culture, decision-making and partnerships, and holding ourselves and others in our institution/institute/department accountable.
2. Undertaking evidence-based, transparent self-assessment processes to direct our priorities and interventions for gender equality, and evaluating our progress to inform our continuous development.
3. Ensuring that gender equality work is distributed appropriately, is recognised and properly rewarded.
4. Addressing structural inequalities and social injustices that manifest as differential experiences and outcomes for staff and students.
5. Tackling behaviours and cultures that detract from the safety and collegiality of our work and study environments for people of all genders, including not tolerating gender-based violence, discrimination, bullying, harassment or exploitation.
6. Understanding and addressing intersectional inequalities
7. Fostering collective understanding that individuals have the right to determine their own gender identity, and tackling the specific issues faced by trans and non-binary people because of their identity
8. Examining gendered occupational segregation, and elevating the status, voice and career opportunities of any identified under-valued and at-risk groups
9. Mitigating the gendered impact of caring responsibilities and career breaks, and supporting flexibility and the maintenance of a healthy ‘whole life balance’
10. Mitigating the gendered impact of short-term and casual contracts for staff seeking sustainable careers.