The award recognises the School’s commitment to the advancement and promotion of the careers of women in science in higher education. An example of best practice from EDA is the School’s outreach event for young women ‘WiRED’ featured in the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s newsletter. EDA also runs a wide array of inclusive School social events.
In addition, four other Science Schools achieved Athena SWAN awards for gender equality. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow, responded to the news:
‘I congratulate the schools on their awards. This represents many years of working to improve the recruitment, retention and progression of women in the Faculty of Science. Each school is able to showcase a range of positive actions and good practice.’
The Dean of Sciences, Professor Mark Burchell, who chairs the Athena SWAN Working Group, added is congratulations:
‘In November 2013 the University achieved an institutional Bronze Award. The institutional award, the Bronze Award achieved by School of Mathematics, Statistics & Actuarial Science in 2014, and these five new awards show how our faculty-wide ambition for real change is being realised. The school awards attest to the excellent work that the schools have been doing over the past few years, ably supported by our central HR and Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity teams. Schools have examined their practices and have started to make real changes that are benefiting staff.’
The Athena SWAN Working Group first met in 2010. Since then, the membership has grown, awareness days have promoted the initiative across the University and the University has now been awarded seven Athena SWAN Bronze Awards.
The Athena SWAN Awareness Event at Medway is being held on 7 May. Find out more on HR’s webpages.