Athena Swan Charter was originally launched to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, maths and medicine (STEMM), in higher education and research, with the Charter expanding its remit and reach to support wider inclusion and equity efforts, including focus on intersectional inequalities, professional services staff, and more. The charter focuses on work to improve gender equality more broadly, including commitments to wider EDI aspirations, leading to positive cultural change in universities through analysing and reflecting on quantitative and qualitative data to understand where improvements need to be made.
The University celebrates its most successful Athena Swan round since joining the Charter in 2009. Departments across several Faculties have achieved awards in the latest Athena Swan submission cycle:
- Department of Physics renews Bronze
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering upgrades to Silver
- Department of Chemistry renews Silver
- Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering renews Silver
- Department of Mathematical Sciences upgrades to Gold
Prof Marion Harney, Chair of Athena Swan USAT and the University's Athena Swan Lead, says: “I am absolutely delighted to see all our departments playing a leading role in identifying opportunities and challenges in gender equality and committing to positive actions resulting in such brilliant outcomes for departments and the University. We’ve travelled a long way over the last 16 years and it is great to see all academic Departments and the School successively awarded Bronzes, Silvers, and now, our first-ever, Gold award. This positions us as sector leaders in good practice in gender equality in UK universities. It’s an endorsement of our widespread progress in this area and a reminder of our commitment to achieving greater gender equality and positive cultural change.”
With the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering upgrading its award to Silver, Faculty of Engineering and Design is the first faculty at the University to host a full house of Silver awards, with all four Departments evidencing the impact of their action plans through achieving successful outcomes against previously identified priorities.
Dr Despina Moschou, Senior Lecturer and EDI Champion for the Faculty of Engineering and Design, and an external Athena Swan and Race Equality Charter Reviewer herself, notes: “It is brilliant to see the years of hard work in EEE paying off with the best possible outcome! We are proud to have all four of our Departments now with Silver awards and looking forward to our first Gold in the Faculty! Many congratulations to the whole Department, Melusine Pigeon and Adrian Evans for going the extra mile!”
While individual departments have successfully gained upgrades on their awards over the last decade, this is the first time that a Gold Award has been made in the 16 years since the University of Bath became a member of the Athena Swan Charter. Gold level award indicates that in addition to evidence of success against previously identified priorities (a requirement for Silver), applicant also demonstrates evidence of sector leading gender equality practice and supporting others to improve. For Mathematical Sciences, the prestigious award is the culmination of years of work to improve gender equality within Department, University, and the HE sector.
Prof Matthew Roberts, Chair of Department of Mathematical Sciences Equality and Diversity Committee, reflects: “Many people in the department have worked hard to make this happen, and we've had lots of support from others as well - so a huge thank you to everyone who contributed! We are really proud that so much of the good practice that we have introduced has helped other departments and other universities to improve too. But this award isn't the end of the story by any means - we still have lots of plans and ideas to keep making the department a better place to work and study for all!”
As soon as feedback from the assessors is received, departments will prepare redacted versions of the applications and upload to the Athena Swan submissions page to share good practise.
The latest set of Athena Swan awards ranging from a renewed Bronze to a first-ever Gold is the result of many years of hard, collaborative work, to remove barriers, improve and champion opportunities for all staff to achieve their best, and recognise and reward achievements in a fair and transparent manner. These awards indicate that we have made a lot of progress, but there is lots still to do.