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Athena Swan

 

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The School of Psychology at NUI Galway is committed to the upholding the principles of Equality Challenge Unit’s Athena Swan Charter.

The Athena SWAN Charter was established in 2005 by the Equality Challenge Unit in the UK to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research.

In May 2015 the charter was expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL), and in professional and support roles, and for trans staff and students. The charter now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women.

In a major national initiative supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), access to the Athena SWAN framework was extended to Irish universities in 2015. Engagement with the Athena SWAN framework is a systematic way of bringing gender equality into strategic and operational planning and working toward improving the outcome for all staff.

NUI Galway signed up to the Athena SWAN charter in 2015 and identified the attainment of an Athena SWAN Bronze award as a key priority in Vision 2020, the University’s Strategic Plan 2015-2020. NUI Galway achieved the Athena SWAN Bronze award in April 2018. This Bronze award is valid until April 2021. The School of Medicine at NUI Galway also has an Athena SWAN Bronze award and now other Schools including Psychology are in the process of developing their structures and processes to apply for a Athena SWAN Bronze award.

Current progress in the School of Psychology

December 2018: The School of Psychology set-up an Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (SAT). The SAT meets monthly.

February/March 2019: We conducted a staff and postgraduate student Culture Survey

June/July 2019: We conducted staff and postgraduate student Focus Groups

April 2020: We aim to submit an application for Athena Swan Bronze award in April 2020.