Championing gender equality - our latest Athena SWAN Award successes

30 May 2017

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team are pleased to announce the outcome of the November 2016 submissions for Athena SWAN awards, including two new School-level awards

The Schools of Law, Mathematics and Social Sciences all achieved Athena SWAN Bronze awards in recognition of their commitment to advance gender equality for their staff and students. 

The Athena SWAN Charter, which was initially established to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM), expanded in May 2015 to address gender equality more broadly and to include those working and studying in the Arts, Humanities, Business, Social Sciences and Law. 

The revised Charter also requires that issues pertaining to Professional Support Services staff are to be addressed in both the Self-Assessment and Action Plan.  

The School of Law and the School of Social Sciences were the first of our Humanities Schools to apply for an Athena SWAN Award. 

Professor Chris Orme, Head of School (SoSS) said: “I am delighted that the School of Social Sciences has received the Athena Swan (AS) Bronze Award. This will impact positively on all our staff and students by helping us to sustain, and build on, our achievements as we strive for equality across all activities - informed by both Athena Swan and Race Charter Mark principles." 

Professor Colette Fagan, Vice-Dean for Research and Deputy Dean for the Faculty of Humanities, chairs the Faculty of Humanities E&D Committee and said: "I am delighted that our Schools of Law and of Social Sciences have been awarded the Bronze Athena Swan and appreciate the hard work which the School SAT teams have done to prepare the submissions and develop their local action plans. 

"I am confident that LAW and SoSS will soon be joined by the other three Schools in our Faculty - the Alliance Business School, the School of Environment, Education and Development and the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures. Our shared focus is upon striving for the Silver Award!"

Professor Toby Seddon, Head of the School of Law, said: "This is a wonderful achievement and the result of much hard work from a wide range of colleagues. We have a lot to be proud of but recognise that there is work to be done. Our action plan will begin the process of delivering on this commitment to gender equality.”

Retaining their award status signified the School of Mathematics’ continued commitment to develop initiatives addressing gender equality. Having first received an Athena SWAN award in 2013, the team have advanced a number of actions and support the School in following both the Athena SWAN principles and the London Mathematics Society Good Practice Scheme. 

Find out more about the Athena SWAN Charter or the work happening in your area or contact our Charter Marks Co-ordinator, Sarah Mohammad-Qureshi.