The University of Cambridge has received the Bronze Award under the Athena SWAN Charter scheme, which aims to recognise excellence in employment practices which assist the recruitment, retention and progression of women in science, engineering and technology (SET).

The award will be presented at a celebratory lunch at Birmingham Botanical Gardens today, Tuesday 29 September, where the keynote speaker will be Dame Janet Finch, Vice-Chancellor at Keele University. Dr Anna Philpott, Reader in Cancer and Developmental Biology in the Department of Oncology and a member of the team responsible for the University’s application, will accept the award on behalf of the University.

An Athena SWAN Bronze award demonstrates that an institution as a whole has a solid foundation of policies and practices to eliminate gender bias and has built an inclusive culture that values female staff.

The assessment for SWAN awards takes into account:
o Policies and procedures that promote gender equality, how they are communicated to staff and what training is available.
o Monitoring and analysis of data.
o Practices that support and advance women’s careers.
o Initiatives to raise the profile of women in SET.

In feedback from the Swan Committee, the University was commended for the reorganisation of Equality and Diversity (E&D) that had occurred since its last application, and noted that the formation of the E&D Committee would lead to better planning and resourcing of work related to the Athena SWAN principles.

The University’s application for renewal of its bronze award was prepared by members of the Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Initiative (WiSETI) guided by a self-assessment team that included scientists at different stages of their academic careers. WiSETI, part of the University’s E&D section based within Human Resources, is directed by Professor Athene Donald, Deputy Head of the Physics Department, and promotes the recruitment, retention and progression of women in SET at all levels within the University. Professor Donald also chairs the Athena Forum which works to advance the careers of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine in Higher Education.

The SWAN Charter was launched in 2005 and is open to any university or research institution that is committed to advance and promote the careers of women in higher education and research. It is supported by the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET and the Equality Challenge Unit, which supports the higher education sector in realising the potential of all staff and students, whatever their race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or age. The University of Cambridge is a partner in the UKRC and a founder member of the SWAN Charter.

 

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