BU became a member of the Athena SWAN charter in September 2012. It was originally a scheme that looked 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.
The University submitted a bronze institutional submission under the pre-May 2015 Athena SWAN initiative and received a bronze award later in the year.
During the summer of 2015 BU signed the new Athena SWAN charter, which committed the university to meeting ten key principles within their policies, practices, action plans and culture.
We have created an Athena SWAN institutional self-assessment team, which oversees the gender equality work at BU and is a sub-group of the Equality and Diversity Committee. Read the terms of reference (doc 139kb).
The following Faculty is undertaking Athena SWAN work:
The following academic departments are undertaking Athena SWAN work:
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology
- Department of Design and Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology
- Department of Computing and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology
- Department of Archaeology, Anthropology and Forensic Science, Faculty of Science and Technology
- Department of Media Production, Faculty of Media and Communication
