Department awarded Athena Swan Silver status

AdvanceHE’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) in higher education and research. In May 2015 the charter was expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL) and in professional and support roles. The rebranded charter now addresses gender equality more broadly, including issues affecting trans and non-binary staff and students.

In March 2024, the Department of English and Related Literature received an Athena Swan Silver Award, following in 2018 Bronze Award, in recognition of our ongoing commitment to gender equality. We are one of a very small number of English departments in the UK to achieve this award and are proud of our accomplishment. To learn more about our Athena Swan award and on-going commitment to equiality and diversity, please see our Equality and Diversity webpage. 

"Heartfelt congratulations are due to the departments of Archaeology and English and Related Literature for the fantastic efforts that have won each of them an Athena Swan Silver Award. These achievements are inspirational and a testament to how the principles of EDI increasingly underpin the culture and everyday operations within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities" (Duncan Petrie, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities).

"We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Faculty of Arts & Humanities on achieving two new prestigious Athena Swan Silver Awards for Archaeology and English and Related Literature. This is a testament to the faculty’s passion and commitment to ensuring inclusivity is central to their work. These awards are not simply a recognition of excellence but also reflect the value you all place in promoting gender equality and creating an environment in which an inclusive staff community can flourish.  Once again, our warmest congratulations to the entire Faculty of Arts & Humanities on this well-deserved accomplishment." (Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Lorna Warnock, Athena Swan Coordinator).