The Departments of Economics, Health, and Politics, Languages and International Studies, together with the School of Management, were recognised with Athena Swan Silver awards for their progress in embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion within their structures, policies, and practices. Each submission demonstrated clear evidence of sustained action and measurable impact, including initiatives to improve gender balance and wellbeing across student cohorts, support career development for staff, and enhance the representation of women in leadership roles.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Prof Marcus Munafò, reflects:
This latest set of Athena Swan Silver Awards reflect the deep commitment across our university to building a fair, supportive, and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. I am immensely proud of our colleagues whose hard work and collaboration have led to these achievements. Their success demonstrates what can be accomplished when equity and inclusion are placed at the heart of our values.
Prof Marion Harney, University’s Athena Swan Lead, highlights:
Our journey from Bronze to Silver across multiple departments and the School reflects not only progress but a deep cultural shift. These awards recognise years of thoughtful, evidence-based action to make equity, diversity, and inclusion a lived reality — not just a policy. It’s inspiring to see how colleagues are embedding inclusive thinking into every aspect of university life, from teaching and research to leadership and community engagement.
University now holds three Bronzes, 11 Silvers, and one Gold Athena Swan Departmental award as well as Silver at an institutional level. In the last two years, we were awarded 13 Athena Swan awards, with 8 upgrades to Silver and one upgrade to Gold, marking a significant milestone in the University’s ongoing journey to advance gender equality.
Dean of School of Management, Professor Stephen Brammer, adds:
I’m delighted that our collective efforts to advance gender equity in the School have been recognized with an Athena Swan Silver award. This reflects the hard work of many colleagues, especially Professor Layla Branicki, Lucie Allott, and our Athena Swan Self-Assessment and EDI teams. Our Silver upgrade also challenges us to continue making progress and evidencing impact against addressing inequalities, and I look forward to that journey.
Dr Elena Seminati, Department for Health, adds:
At the Department for Health, we believe that gender equality helps everyone reach their full potential. Through inclusive leadership, meaningful support, and a spirit of collaboration, we’ve worked to create a community where all voices are heard and valued. This progress has only been possible thanks to the dedication of our staff and students, and the generous support we’ve received from colleagues across the wider community. We’re delighted that many of the initiatives developed here have gone on to influence positive change in other departments and universities. This award marks another step forward, not the finish line. We’ll continue to advance equality and inclusion through stronger mentorship, fairer workloads, and greater support for wellbeing and belonging across our community.
The achievements of the departments and school reflect a shared commitment to continuous improvement and to creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. All our submissions can be found on the Athena Swan Submissions page, with the most recent applications to be uploaded over the coming weeks once redacted.