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Birkbeck Athena SWAN Bronze Award renewed

Award recognises the College's commitment to achieving gender equality

Birkbeck has had its Athena SWAN Bronze Award renewed by the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU). The award recognises the College’s commitment to achieving gender equality across the institution and the progress that it is making in this area. It is valid for three years.

ECU’s Athena SWAN Charter was established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research. In May 2015, the charter was expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law, and in professional and support roles, and for trans staff and students. The charter now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women. 

The College’s application was overseen by the Self-Assessment Team, chaired by the Master of Birkbeck, Professor David Latchman with representation from all STEM areas of the college. Now the award is renewed, the Self-Assessment Team will be reconstituted for the new, broader Athena SWAN remit.

Professor Latchman said: “I am delighted that the College’s commitment to the aims of the Athena SWAN charter have been recognised with this award. As we implement our action plan we will continue to identify and develop new ways to create an environment that is welcoming and fair for all and to remove any obstacles to equality for staff across the College.”

Dr Belinda Brooks-Gordon, Assistant Dean for Equalities, School of Science, said: “The Bronze Athena SWAN award is another important step on Birkbeck’s journey towards achieving gender equality. Our ambitious action plan for the next three years will ensure that we continue to embed these principles across the College.”

As well as the institutional award, both the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Psychological Sciences at Birkbeck have Athena SWAN Bronze awards.

Find out more about Athena SWAN at Birkbeck

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