Department presented with Athena Swan silver award
Posted on 7 December 2022
The Athena SWAN charter was launched in 2005 to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research.
The Athena SWAN process enabled the Department to assess how well it was doing in promoting gender equality and supporting the careers students and staff.
A working group, led by Dr Amanda Perry, facilitated a review of student and staff numbers, employment policies and practices and career development opportunities. Involving the whole department, we created an Action Plan identifying areas for improvement in progressing Athena SWAN principles.
Head of Department, Professor Kate Flemming, said: "We are delighted to have received this award in recognition of our commitment to promoting gender equality. We are a large department with an inclusive culture and the Athena Swan Charter recognises the advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all."
Professor Kiran Trehan, Chair of the Athena Swan Steering Group said: "I am delighted that the Department of Health Sciences has been successful in their application and have been awarded the silver Athena Swan award. This award is real testimony to the measurable differences colleagues in Health Sciences are making in advancing Gender equality and ensuring we continue to deliver on our values as a university for public good in transforming our practices. and commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
"I would like to congratulate and thank the Athena Swan Assessment group and the Department of Health Sciences for their passionate commitment and efforts to ensuring through their leadership we continue to demonstrate the importance of creating an inclusive community."
Professor Andy Dougill, Dean of Faculty for the Sciences, added: "Congratulations to the Department of Health Sciences on achieving their Silver Athena Swan award. This prestigious, gender equality charter award demonstrates our commitment to our wider Faculty- and University-wide work on placing inclusivity at the heart of our activities in staff recruitment, development and student support."