University’s gender equality commitment earns Athena SWAN awards

Published On Thu 23 Apr 2015 by Roddy Isles

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

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

The University’s Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification and College of Life Sciences have each been recognised for their commitment to gender equality and have both been successful in obtaining Athena SWAN Departmental bronze awards.

The Centre and College now join the College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing in holding the Departmental Bronze award, in recognition of their commitment to supporting the progress of women and all staff in those areas.

“We are delighted with these awards which recognise 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.

Professor Sue Black, Director of CAHID, “To receive this award is a fitting and very welcome accolade for the enormous amount of work and commitment shown by staff and students across the University who aim to provide the most progressive and supportive environment possible for career development.”

The University is already a full member of the Athena SWAN Charter and was awarded an Institutional Bronze award in April 2013.  

To gain the Institutional Bronze award the University commits to 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.

Athena SWAN initiatives across the University include increasing the capacity of the University nursery, providing a fund for junior academics in Life Sciences to contribute to care expenses incurred as a result of training out-of-hours, and improving work/life balance policies.

The Athena SWAN awards are made by the Equality Challenge Unit. Holding an Athena SWAN award not only improves the representation and career progression of women in STEMM in an institution but also has an overarching positive effect on working culture and environment that benefits all staff.

The awards ceremony will be held on 15th June 2015 at the University of Greenwich.

For more information about Athena SWAN see:

http://www.ecu.ac.uk/equality-charter-marks/athena-swan/

Roddy Isles
Head of Press
TEL: 01382 384910
MOBILE: 07800 581902
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk