Athena SWAN in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport

Athena SWAN is a charter established in 2005 by the Equality Challenge Unit. It was originally set up to advance the representation of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM). In 2015 the charter was expanded to include staff in academic, professional and support roles, students and broaden the substantive areas to include arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law. The focus of the charter has expanded to address gender equality more broadly, not just barriers that affect women. It has also seen the inclusion of intersectionality – which recognises that people can face discrimination based on different elements of their identity (e.g., age, (dis)ability, race, religion and sexuality).

The Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport currently holds a Silver Athena SWAN award (2024-2029).

To attain the Silver award, the faculty was required to:

1. Conduct a thorough self-assessment. We engaged in a detailed analysis of gender representation and experiences among staff and students, evaluating our progress against our Bronze action plan, and pinpointing areas that could be improved. This process involved collecting and analysing disaggregated data across the faculty to ensure a nuanced understanding of our gender dynamics.
2. Develop and implement a targeted action plan. Based on the self-assessment findings, the faculty formulated strategic actions aimed at addressing identified challenges. This plan encompasses initiatives such as mentorship programs, early career staff support and continuous professional development opportunities, equality pledges, efforts to boost visibility of inclusion, transparent recruitment and promotion processes, and measures to support work-life balance.
3. Demonstrate measurable progress and impact. We gathered and presented evidence of tangible improvements resulting from the actions in our previous (Bronze) action plan. This included showcasing enhanced gender representation in leadership roles, increased retention rates of staff from underrepresented genders, and a positive shift in the organisational culture toward inclusivity.

By fulfilling these criteria, the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport not only met the rigorous standards set by Advance HE for the Silver Athena Swan award but also reinforced its dedication to creating an equitable and supportive environment for all staff and students.