Double Athena SWAN success
Both the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Environment have been recognised by Athena SWAN for promoting gender equality.
The Faculty of Engineering received a prestigious Athena SWAN Silver Award from the Equality Challenge Unit, the national body that promotes equality in the higher education sector. The Silver Award is given in recognition of the strong and continued commitment to gender equality in the Faculty and reflects the significant progress made over the past five years.
The award represents the combined efforts of all five schools in the Faculty and has been awarded only two and a half years after achieving the first stage Bronze Award. The successful award submission was led by the Faculty Self-Assessment Team (SAT), a group of 18 staff and students from across all five schools. This group have worked with staff and students across the Faculty to monitor gender balance, review policies and support a wide range of initiatives to promote equality.
Professor Cath Noakes, Chair of the Faculty SAT, said: “We’re delighted to receive this award and I would like to acknowledge the hard work of all members of the SAT and many others in the Faculty that have led to this success. Although we still have further to go, this national award is recognition that we are one of the leading Engineering Faculties in the UK for supporting gender equality.”
Professor Peter Jimack, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, said: “I am delighted that the Faculty has received this recognition for the outstanding work that we have done, and are continuing to undertake, in promoting the equality and diversity agenda in Engineering. I am proud of the diverse and dynamic range of staff and students that make up the Faculty of Engineering and we are committed to ensure that Engineering is seen as an attractive career option for all. This award is an important further step for us along this path.”
Read more about the Faculty of Engineering’s success.
The Faculty of Environment has been awarded the Athena SWAN bronze award for work on advancing gender equality across the three schools.
Commenting on the success, Submission Coordinator Professor Greg Marsden said: “This is a great achievement which recognises some of the good practice that already happens across the Faculty in making a more diverse student population and inclusive workplace. However, we have also identified there’s more that can be done, from the details of organising field trips to providing enhanced support for those returning from parental leave.”
The Faculty submission is available to download.
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