The Athena Swan Charter is a framework to support and transform gender equality within higher education and research. The charter uses different levels of awards to recognise action being taken to advance gender equality in universities and research institutes, faculties and schools and departments, and directorates.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane Harrington has written to the Athena Swan Charter to confirm that the university will be working towards the achievement of the charter’s aims, applying for a Bronze institutional award in the first instance.
The university’s charter submission will involve it developing insights through analysis of evidence to devise, enact and evaluate strategies for change that overcome underrepresentation and disadvantage relating to gender at the University of Greenwich. This approach encompasses all:
- aspects of gender equality – from equal pay to preventing gender-based violence
- gender identities
- intersectionality
- faculties and directorates, and
- staff roles – academic, technical, and professional and support.
Athena Swan will also complement and reinforce culture change spurred by the university’s implementation of the Disability Confident scheme, EDI Race Action Plan (launching soon) and Race Equality Charter, Stonewall’s UK Workplace Equality Index Action Plan, Technician Commitment, and University Mental Health Charter.
The charter submission will extend to delivering new interventions alongside harnessing and catalysing existing sector-leading initiatives that contribute to inclusivity and culture at the university, including:
- Eliminating pay gaps pertaining to gender and to ‘BAME’, disabled and LGBT+ staff and intersectionality
- Conducting values-based appraisals, including a common objective to support inclusivity, culture change and wellbeing
- Supporting professional services staff career development
- Preventing gender-based violence building on the Women’s Network’s series of events
- Pioneering allyship and upstanding research, support and development
- Undertaking LGBT+ Culture Research.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Harrington said: “I am delighted that we have formally begun to prepare our submission for an Athena Swan Charter award. This will involve us examining and assessing our staff profile, experience and culture, and how they influence gender equity and inclusion across our university community.
“The findings will determine further action we will take to ensure gender equality, building on the initiatives we are already undertaking to foster a culture where all staff are supported and inspired to succeed at Greenwich as a leading, modern and transformative university.”
