Athena Swan

The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering currently holds an Athena Swan bronze award.

The Athena Swan Charter is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research. Established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment, the Charter is now being used across the globe to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women.

Diverse images of staff and students in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
We are committed to addressing the challenges of gender equality, and to providing a supportive environment for all staff and students.

Diversity, Inclusion, Culture and Equity Committee

With that accreditation given by the UK Athena Swan Charter, the department follows the approved action plan that it provided during its application for the award, to advance equality in representation, progression, and success for all.

The department is held accountable through its DICE committee, which includes staff and students of the department. The members have a range of cultural experience, family/caring responsibilities, and represent the range of job families as well as management/leadership roles both in the college and externally.

DICE will continue to review and assess our current practices, monitor our action plan and work together to achieve our goals for equality in representation, progression and success for all.
 

Our Athena Swan Action Plan

To ensure that we have full equality of opportunity for female and male staff and students, over the next four years we will

  • monitor staff and student data, to ensure that any gender inequalities and unconscious biases are highlighted as early as possible
  • promote the benefits of flexible working arrangements, support for maternity, paternity and adoptive leave, and career breaks
  • improve our recruitment processes including advertising and shortlisting
  • improve career development and promotion opportunities across all job families, ensuring that women do not experience barriers to success
  • increase representation of women in the department, promote our women's society and invite women speakers, ensure more women are represented on department committees
  • ensure the communication of our Athena Swan goals and provide regular formal progress updates