Four City, University of London’s Schools have now received Athena SWAN awards.
By City Press Office (City Press Office), Published (Updated )
The City Law School has been recognised for its commitment to gender equality by achieving the Bronze Award as part of the Athena SWAN Charter.
The Athena SWAN Charter is a framework used to support and transform gender equality within higher education and research. It has now been five years since City received its first institutional Athena SWAN Bronze Award.
With The City Law School’s achievement of a Bronze Award, four City Schools have now received Athena SWAN awards, which is testament to the efforts of the many colleagues who have put in great effort to increase opportunities for female academics at the University.
Professor Richard Ashcroft, Executive Dean of The City Law School, said:
“I am very proud of all the hard work that went into achieving this award. As a Law School, we have a special responsibility for leadership in equality, diversity and inclusion, and as Dean I have made a special commitment to ensuring that we live up to that responsibility. I am grateful to everyone who has worked on the application over the last few years, and I give special thanks to Dr Sabrina Germain, Professor Peter Hungerford-Welch, Dr Jessica Jones-Nielsen and Kiren Chima. We have a strong and compelling action plan and now we must implement it: the award is only a beginning.”
Dr Sabrina Germain, Associate Dean for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) in The City Law School, who led the final submission, said:
“I am thrilled to have been part of this positive first step towards greater gender equality for our school. I am equally excited to help lead transformational changes taking an intersectional and inclusive approach in the years to come.”
Professor Peter Hungerford-Welch, who chaired The City Law School’s Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team, said:
“I am very pleased to have been able to play a part in The City Law School receiving this award, which affirms our commitment to gender equality, itself part of a much wider commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion for all staff and students across the School.”
About Athena SWAN
The Athena Scientific Women’s Academic Network (SWAN) Charter was established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) fields in higher education and research.
In May 2015 the Charter was expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL); in professional and support roles; and for trans staff and students. The Charter now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly not just barriers to progression that may affect women.
City became a member of the Athena SWAN Charter in February 2014 and was awarded Bronze status in 2017. The Charter supports institutions to raise their Equality and Diversity profiles, both internally and externally and provides a framework on which to build on current good practice.
Athena SWAN awards are available in Bronze, Silver and Gold at both institution and departmental level. Universities must achieve at least a Bronze Award before individual departments can apply for recognition at Bronze, Silver or Gold levels.