Departments receive recognition for tackling gender inequality
Advance HE has announced that three University of Leicester departments are among the most recent institutions and departments to receive an Athena SWAN award, in the charter that recognises commitment to tackling gender inequality in higher education.
The achievement of a Silver Athena SWAN award in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology reflects the implementation of change and the demonstration of impact in addressing gender inequality and the departments work in addressing challenges. Dr Sally Prigent led the departmental self-assessment team to submit the application which built on their previous Bronze award. In the same round, Bronze awards were awarded to the Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, led by Dr Robin Green and Professor Ruth Luthi-Carter, and the Department of Physics and Astronomy, led by Dr Rhaana Starling. All three departments have set themselves ambitious action plans to advance gender equality in their areas.
Professor Paul Boyle, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, said: “Receiving three more Athena SWAN awards, is a mark of great commitment to gender equality and demonstrates the great strides that the University of Leicester has made in tackling issues of recruiting and retaining women in HE. I am delighted that the efforts of our colleagues to create a more positive environment have been recognised."
The University of Leicester signed up to the Athena SWAN Charter in 2006 and achieved its Institutional Athena SWAN Bronze Award in 2008 with renewals in 2011 and 2014. The University now holds a total of 6 departmental Silver awards and 7 Bronze with 86% of our STEMM departments holding awards. Our departments within the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities are beginning their Athena SWAN journeys and aim to apply for awards over the coming years.
For the November 2017 round, there were 164 applications. The success rate has increased since the April 2017 round from 59% to 64%.