University a leading example of gender equality, with two more Athena Swan awards

The University of Bradford has achieved two more coveted Athena Swan Awards, meaning it is a leading example in terms of ensuring women (and men in some departments) are properly represented in the workplace.

The new awards are: a new institutional Bronze Award and a Bronze Award for the Faculty of Engineering and Informatics.

A brief history of our involvement with Athena Swan:-

• 2013 - the University of Bradford became a member of the Charter
• 2015 - institutional Bronze Award
• 2017 - Bronze Award for School of Chemistry and Biosciences
• 2020 - Bronze Award for School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Health Studies and School of Optometry and Vision Science
• 2021 - Bronze Award for Faculty of Engineering and Informatics and institutional Bronze Award

Commenting on the achievements, Prof Udy Archibong, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, said: “I am thrilled about our achievement of these additional Athena Swan awards which recognise our solid foundation for eliminating gender bias and developing an inclusive culture that values all members of our university community.

“These awards give us confidence that we are moving in the right direction. I wish to congratulate Athena Swan leads and self-assessment teams for this significant success.”

She added the university is currently finalising its application for more departmental applications in May and November 2021.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Shirley Congdon said: "I am delighted that the University of Bradford has been conferred these additional Athena Swan Awards, demonstrating our commitment to the advancement of gender equality. We value the individual differences that people bring to our organisation and society at large. Being committed to equality, diversity and inclusion will help us realise our strategic ambition to support social mobility.”

Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Informatics, Prof Martin Priest said: “I am very proud of the team in the Faculty who prepared our successful Athena Swan Bronze Award submission. The engineering and computer science disciplines that dominate the Faculty present longstanding gender challenges that go well beyond the University of Bradford and education, with deep-rooted societal and industry issues.

“The Faculty is on a journey to our ultimate vision of a flexible, adaptable and responsive home for high performing staff and students. Fairness, openness and inclusivity lie at the heart of our vision and Athena Swan is a vital tool to help us achieve these.”

The latest accolades build on the work the university is doing on accelerating a culture of equality, making our diversity count, and enabling a climate for inclusion. The University was recently ranked #1 in the country for ‘improving students’ life chances’ on the new SMI Index university rankings. In 2019, it was named University of the Year for Social Inclusion by The Times and Sunday Times.

The Athena Swan Charter recognises the advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all. It was founded in 2005 to advance the representation of women in science, technology, engineering, medicine and mathematics. It was extended in 2015 to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law as well as professional and support roles and for trans staff and students. The Charter now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly (including intersectionality).