University’s gender equality commitment earns Athena SWAN award

Published On Thu 1 May 2014 by Roddy Isles

The University of Dundee’s work in advancing gender equality across the institution has been recognised with an Athena SWAN Bronze award.

The Athena SWAN Awards recognise success in developing employment practices to further and support the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) departments in academia.

“We are delighted with this award which recognises the efforts made across the university to ensure a supportive working environment for women and all our staff,” said Professor Doreen Cantrell, Vice Principal and Head of the College of Life Sciences.

The University was already a full member of the Athena SWAN Charter. To gain the Bronze award an institution has to meet standards outlined in the Charter’s six principals addressing gender inequality, the need for cultural change within an organisation and recognition of some of the problems facing women in STEMM sectors.

An independent evaluation into the impact and effectiveness of Equality Challenge Unit’s Athena SWAN Charter has confirmed that the awards scheme advances gender equality and changes the working culture and attitude within participating departments and universities.

The research team found that membership of the charter helped to advance women’s careers and had a positive impact on changing the culture and attitudes within member institutions. Universities and departments that hold Athena SWAN awards are more advanced in addressing unequal representation than those that don’t.

David Ruebain, chief executive of Equality Challenge Unit,said, “At a time when universities and departments have to target resources where they will make the biggest difference, I hope it will be reassuring to know there is independent evidence of the sustainable impact working towards an Athena SWAN award can have.

“The report also underlines that it isn’t only female academics that benefit from involvement in our charter. Men also benefited from initiatives such as flexible working.“

This year’s Athena SWAN awards will be presented at an awards ceremony to be held at Durham University on Thursday 10th July.

For more information contact:
Roddy Isles
Head of Press
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN.
TEL: 01382 384910
MOBILE: 07800 581902
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk