Athena SWAN Silver Award for gender equality

Our School of Health and Social Care has become the first department at Essex to achieve a prestigious Athena SWAN Silver Award for its commitment to gender equality.

Athena SWAN Awards are presented by the Equality Challenge Unit, recognising and promoting inclusive university cultures. Our School of Health and Social Care received its Bronze Award in 2015 and has since implemented further initiatives to gain the Silver Award, including: 

• a mentorship system
• additional promotion of flexible work and study options 
• work to recognise the barriers to opportunity for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) and LGBT members of our community

Vikki-Jo Scott, Head of the School, said: “We pride ourselves on the values of inclusivity and equality that are inherent in the work of Athena SWAN and this award is a testament to the amazing work and culture developed by our Athena SWAN assessment team, staff and students. The process has given us further ideas for enhancement that will ensure the School continues to be a welcoming, supportive and vibrant environment.”

Professor Gill Green led the School’s Athena SWAN team and said: “We are delighted to have achieved the Athena SWAN Silver Award. This recognition of our work is an important landmark in our journey to create an inclusive environment with equal opportunities for all.”

A University-wide commitment

As part of Essex’s commitment to gender equality, all schools and departments will have submitted Athena SWAN applications by 2019-20. We hold an institutional Bronze Award and departmental Bronze Awards have been presented to our: 

• School of Biological Sciences 
• Department of History
• Department of Psychology

Essex Business School and our School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science will be submitting applications in November 2017. 

Aletta Norval, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) and University gender diversity champion, said: “We are immensely proud of the Athena SWAN Silver award that the School of Health and Social Care has achieved. This achievement will add momentum to the wider work we are doing to ensure that we are a truly inclusive and diverse community.”