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Athena SWAN Charter
A membership and awards scheme to promote and recognise good employment practice for women working in science, technology, engineering, medicine and mathematics (STEMM) in higher education and research institutes
For: Staff in STEMM departments; equality and diversity practitioners; senior management
When: June 2005 – ongoing
Launched in June 2005, the Athena SWAN Charter was created to encourage universities and research institutes to address the attrition of women working in STEMM. Any institution that is committed to the advancement of women’s careers in STEMM can apply for membership.
The awards
The SWAN Charter has three levels of award:
- Bronze: for institutions and individual schools and departments with a full range of policies and procedures to ensure family-friendly working, and transparent recruitment and promotion procedures
- Silver: for individual schools and departments implementing institutional policies and making progress in addressing challenges specific to their discipline
- Gold: for significant and sustained progress against plans identified at silver level.
Members can apply for awards twice a year. The awards are judged by a panel of experts with a professional background in STEMM and equality and diversity. Awards are valid for three years.
Benefits
Benefits for members include:
- A prestigious award
- Raised profile as a good employer for academic women in STEMM – award-winning members are featured in Athena SWAN publications and on the website
- Sharing best practice and support between members
Further information
Further information can be found on the Athena SWAN website.
Primary contact
Sarah Hawkes
Senior Policy Adviser
Telephone: 020 7438 1026
Email: sarah.hawkes@ecu.ac.uk