Gender and inclusion award for Heriot-Watt’s School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences
Heriot-Watt University’s School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences (MACS) is celebrating an award for its work to progress gender equality and inclusion.
The School has been awarded a Silver Award within the Athena Swan Charter – an internationally-recognised framework to advance gender equality in higher education and research. The awarding body is Advance HE, which promotes excellence in higher education.
We are delighted to be recognised for our enduring commitment to making our School a fair, supportive and inclusive place to study and work, at all levels.
The School was awarded an Athena Swan Bronze Award in 2015 and 2019, renewed in 2022. The Athena Swan Silver Award recognises progress and impact in embedding Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) culture, policies and practice in redressing gender inequality. It is the University's first award at this level.
Heriot-Watt was a founding member of the Athena Swan Charter, which was established in 2005 to advance women's careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education. The Charter now addresses gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women. Since 2015, the Athena Swan remit extends to staff and students of all genders and disciplines, including professional services staff.
Achievements at the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences include improving gender balance in the staff and student communities, including at key points in the academic career trajectory; enhancing opportunities for career development and progression; promoting flexible working and family leave and increasing funding in Athena Swan and ED&I-related activity, to raise awareness and promote engagement.
Professor Sara Lombardo, Executive Dean of Heriot-Watt’s School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences, said: “We are delighted to be recognised for our enduring commitment to making our School a fair, supportive and inclusive place to study and work, at all levels. We have championed gender equality and inclusion among our students and staff for decades – and the Athena Swan Silver Award is testament to the progress and impact we are achieving. Today we celebrate this award, but we are aware that more work is needed, and we will work hard to progress to Gold in the future.”
Initiatives at Heriot-Watt’s School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences also include a highly successful Athena Swan Undergraduate Bursary Scheme for students from under-represented groups, or for equality, diversity and inclusion-related projects or research.
This initiative was successfully launched globally in 2024, when the School extended funding to engage students in the UK and Dubai. Other initiatives include support for the Piscopia initiative, jointly run with the School of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh, which is a UK-wide initiative to encourage women and underrepresented genders to pursue a PhD in Mathematics. MACS also promotes opportunities for underrepresented groups, including at conferences, research stays and internships. A women in computer science group – Women@CS – also hosts events and fundraising alongside social activities.
Professor Richard A. Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, said: “We are committed to progressing equality, diversity and inclusion goals across our campuses in the UK, Dubai and Malaysia – and are delighted that the leadership of our School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences has been recognised with this important award.
“Advancing equality, diversity and inclusion is core to our mission as a University and underpins our aim to deliver real impact and sustainable culture change in the world.”
Heriot-Watt’s wider equality, diversity and inclusion work includes taking action to close gender pay gaps; commitments to ending gender-based violence; supporting staff and students who are carers; supporting the progression of disabled academic colleagues and students and promoting flexible working options, including hybrid working.
There are three levels of Athena SWAN Award – Bronze, Silver and Gold. Heriot-Watt University secured an institutional Bronze Award in 2013 (renewed in 2017 and 2021).