Heriot-Watt University has been a member of the Athena SWAN Charter since 2005 and is in the process of completing a submission to the Athena SWAN Charter for a University Bronze Award. A Self-Assessment Team (SAT) oversees the production of our submission which includes representatives from across our academic Schools (both STEMM and non-STEMM) and is Chaired by the Head of the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences Professor Steve McLaughlin. More information about the University’s approach to our Athena SWAN submission can be found here.
What is Athena SWAN?
The Athena SWAN Charter recognises commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education. The Charter was launched in June 2005 and has three levels of award, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Heriot-Watt University was a founding member of the Charter. For more information about the Charter visit www.athena.org.uk
All members of the Athena SWAN Charter agree to the following principles:
- 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.
What’s happening at Heriot-Watt?
Athena SWAN recognises the advancement of Women within STEMM areas, however the University recognises that the Award process is a benefit for all academic staff to ensure that we have in place the best possible processes and opportunities for the development of academics. The University also recognises that progressing through the Athena SWAN Awards will have a positive impact on the student experience and we are keen to progress our work within the overarching aim to improve the academic experience of all.
As part of our Bronze Submission the SAT will produce an action plan outlining how we will address any issues which are barriers to the underpinning principles of Athena SWAN. As part of that action plan the SAT is keen to hear from academic staff about their experiences of working within Heriot-Watt University alongside canvasing opinion on the range of activities that we may take forward. While the SAT is undertaking this activity as part of the Bronze Submission the SAT is committed to taking forward progressive activities to address the advancement of women in STEMM.
The SAT is keen to hear you views and is launching a survey. It is important that we hear your views and we’d like to encourage as many academic staff as possible to complete the survey. Further information about the survey will follow shortly.
In addition to the survey the SAT will be holding an open meeting in on the morning of 28 March 2013 hosted by the SAT Chair,. Professor Steve McLaughlin and the Principal, Professor Steve Chapman. That meeting will give feedback from the survey and share with staff the Bronze Action Plan. In order to assist us in planning the session an early indication of intention to attend would be much appreciated by contacting Sharan Virdee.
What’s Coming Next?
For your chance to get involved look out for:
- February 2013 Athena SWAN Survey
- March 2013 Open session about the Heriot-Watt approach
- April 2013 Bronze Submission to Athena SWAN
- May 2013 Events, Activities and other opportunities publicised linked to Athena SWAN, geared toward our academic staff