Athena SWAN at the University of Oxford
The Athena SWAN Charter supports good employment practices for women in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET). For Athena, SET includes the medical sciences.
Going through the Athena SWAN application process gives universities and departments the space to reflect on, and celebrate, current organisational and cultural practices that promote gender equality in SET. Athena SWAN also offers a valuable framework for introducing cultural changes that create a better working environment for both men and women.
Athena SWAN and Gender Advisory Group
The Advisory Group on Athena SWAN and Gender, which met for the first time in November 2012, brings together the work of three former advisory bodies: the Athena SWAN University Committee; the Gender Equality Scheme Steering Group; and the Gender Panel of the Education Committee. The merged group brings together expertise from across the collegiate University on all aspects of gender equality work at Oxford in relation to both students and staff, in order to give this work greater focus and consistency. It is Chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Personnel and Equality and reports to the Equality and Diversity (E&D) Panel.
Read papers and minutes from past Advisory Group meetings here.
Departmental activity at the University of Oxford
There is a significant amount of activity on Athena SWAN amongst departments at Oxford: all MPLS and MSD departments support the initiative and intend to submit an application for an award. To date, four departments have achieved a Silver award, and seven have been awarded Bronze. A further ten departments submitted applications in April 2013 and are awaiting the outcome, while others have established their self-assessment panels and are progressing with applications to be submitted in November 2013.
You can read the successful applications here.
Athena SWAN institutional award
The University holds an Athena SWAN Bronze institutional award, which is due for renewal in November 2013. We welcome feedback on the draft application and suggestions as to what more the University can do to support women's career development at each career stage. Although the focus of Athena SWAN is on women's careers in science, our application aims to address issues that affect women in all disciplines.