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The 91�պ�AV has been recognised nationally for our collective commitment to promoting gender equity with the award of an Athena Swan Silver Award. 

Since 2014, we have held an Athena Swan Bronze Award but now Advance HE has awarded us a Silver Award for our efforts in advancing gender equity. 

Established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment, the Athena Swan Charter is now being used across the globe to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women.

Achieving 70% of our actions (from our Bronze Award action plan) has led to a shift in culture within the University. For context nationally we are now one of 38 universities with Silver Awards, with only three universities awarded higher Gold Awards.

A number of achievements were recognised in our submission which was completed last year, looking back at data from 2023 and earlier including:

• Increasing the number of women Heads of School from 6 in 2017 (21%) to 12 in 2022 (44%)
• Increasing the overall number and proportion of successful applications from women applying for promotion to Reader (now retitled Associate Professor) to 44%
• Launching a Parent and Carers Staff Network for staff
• Relaunching our Women’s Network for staff which now sits at a membership of 250 members
• Creating Breastfeeding and Expressing Rooms for staff
• Improving maternity leave and pay, as well as the uptake of paternity, parental and adoption leave
• Ensuring consistency in decision-making of flexible working requests, leading to a 95% approval rate for both academic and research and professional services staff

Next steps

Although we have made significant progress in addressing the intersectionality of gender and race as demonstrated by our Race Equality Charter Bronze Award, providing a flexible, family-friendly working environment, and promoting a positive, inclusive gender culture across the University, we want to go further. Our Silver Award action plan is even more ambitious, with clearly defined actions and specific action holders.

Colleagues from across the University have also been encouraged to become Athena Swan Changemakers to help us reach our ambitions and accelerate the implementation of our action plan.

Chris Chang, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement and Student Life) and Strategic Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (including Athena Swan), said: “We are delighted that we have been recognised nationally for our collective commitment to promoting gender equity at the University.

“While we have made progress we know there is more work to be done in embedding gender equity in our everyday decisions and actions so we can truly build an inclusive culture – different voices, one community – that makes a positive difference to the lives and experiences of our colleagues and students.”