Athena SWAN Charter
The Athena SWAN Charter is a scheme which recognises excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education. The Charter was launched by the Royal Society in June 2005 and has grown consistently with over half of all higher education institutes being members.
There are currently 124 award-holding institutions and departments - 42 Bronze University Awards, 1 Silver University Award, 27 Bronze Departmental, 52 Silver Departmental and 2 Gold Departmental Awards.
Charter principles
The six Charter principles which underpin the Athena SWAN are as follows:
- To address gender inequalities requires commitment and action from everyone, at all levels of the organisation.
- To tackle the unequal representation of women in science requires changing cultures and attitudes across the organisation.
- The absence of diversity at management and policy-making levels has broad implications which the organisation will examine.
- The high loss rate of women in science is an urgent concern which the organisation will address.
- The system of short-term contracts has particularly negative consequences for the retention and progression of women in science, which the organisation recognises.
- There are both personal and structural obstacles to women making the transition from PhD into a sustainable academic career in science, which require the active consideration of the organisation.
The Charter is co-owned by ECU and the UKRC and is funded by ECU, the royal Society, the Biochemical Society and the Department of Health.
More information is available from the Athena SWAN website
Please email the team with any queries via; AthenaSWAN@surrey.ac.uk
