Mike Chenery Athena SWAN Co-ordinator
What is Athena SWAN? • A Charter established in 2005 • Advancing the careers of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) disciplines • Evolved from an Athena Project and the Scientific Women’s Academic Network (SWAN)
Why Athena SWAN? • Fewer women than men progressing through academia, in particular at professorial level • Fewer females than male undergraduates students in some of the STEMM disciplines • Fewer female students undertaking Master’s degrees or doctorates in STEMM subjects
Expanded Athena SWAN • Expanded in 2015 • Key changes – Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business and Law (AHSSBL) – Address all gender inequality – Trans staff and students – Professional services staff
Athena SWAN Membership • 134 Members – 104 Universities • Institutions – 67 Bronze Charter Awards – 6 Silver Charter Awards • School/Departments – 256 Bronze Awards – 109 Silver Awards – 7 Gold Awards
University’s Plan • Charter member – End of 2015 • Institutional Athena SWAN Award – Nov 2016 • School Athena SWAN Awards – April 2017
Athena SWAN Process • 6-9 month process • Establish a Self-Assessment Team • Collect Data • Analyse/reflect on data and review policies and processes • Explore support available to staff in advancing careers • Develop a SMART Action Plan
Benefits of Athena SWAN – Allows University to examine their policies, practices and culture – Evaluate the support available to staff and students – Identify where changes may need to be made – Fair and transparent recruitment/promotion processes – Stronger training and career development opportunities
Benefits of Athena SWAN – Help secure research funding – Improve communication – Share good practice – Enhance scrutiny of workload model – Attractive place to work
Current Status • Raising Awareness across the University • Collating Data • Reviewing Policies/Staff Survey • Establish the Gap
Next Step Create a Self Assessment Team (SAT) • Key to success of application • Representative of the University • Needs to works as a committee Expectations of SAT members • Full Commitment • Attendance at meetings (every 8 weeks) • Analyse data and provide input into submission process
Further Information AthenaSWAN@canterbury.ac.uk
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