Athena SWAN awards
17 October 2016
The University’s College of Biomedical and Life Sciences has received two silver Athena SWAN awards from the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU), in recognition of its commitment to tackling gender inequality in higher education.
Athena SWAN, one of the ECU’s equality charters, aims to recognise and encourage commitment to gender equality in higher education and research, in particular women’s career advancement in the fields of science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine.
The School of Biosciences received its silver award for improved equality and diversity training, and for equipping women for successful career progression through mentoring schemes and new approaches to appraisals.
The School of Psychology’s silver award was achieved through several improved practices which have resulted in increased numbers of women being recruited and achieving promotion.
Professor Elizabeth Treasure, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University, said: “We’re delighted that our commitment to gender equality has been recognised by the Equality Challenge Unit..."
"We are dedicated to promoting equality and recognise the many advantages of a diverse and talented student and staff community, and the benefits this brings to every individual and the University as a whole.”
In addition to working towards the principles of the Athena Swan Charter, the University has adopted several other measures to ensure equality for all. Our objectives for equality and diversity are set out in our University Strategic Equality Plan and are supported by an action plan setting out how these objectives are to be achieved.
We also take part in national initiatives, which whilst focusing work on a particular area of inclusion, has the benefit of improving equality for all. Additionally, we have taken part in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index of Top 100 Employers for a number of years and have improved our ranking year on year. In 2016 we were placed 20th in the UK, the top University in the country.
