was established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women working in STEM subjects in higher education, and in May 2015 it was expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law. The recently introduced Transformed Athena Swan Charter also recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and aims to nurture positive inclusive cultures that address issues experienced due to sex, but also gender identity, caring responsibilities, and other intersectional inequalities.
The Bronze Award recognises the School of Law鈥檚 efforts to embed equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) within the department, evidenced by the robust process of self-assessment and the development of a five-year action plan to address the commitment to the advancement of gender equality.
SJ Cooper-Knock, who was part of team that led on this submission, stated:
This has been a really generative process for us as a school. The Athena Swan self-assessment process gave us the space for substantive dialogue with staff and students. As a school, we have been able to reflect honestly on where we are and collectively envisage where we want to be in five years鈥 time. Our Athena Swan Action Plan provides us with an ambitious but attainable map for meaningful change. The comprehensive nature of this change is testament to the fact that we believe that 鈥榚quality work is everyone鈥檚 work鈥. I'm proud of the journey that got us to this point, and I am excited about the road ahead.鈥
SJ Cooper-Knock
Senior Lecturer in Criminology
As part of the department鈥檚 ongoing efforts to promote an equitable, diverse and inclusive campus, the action plan sets out five priorities:
- Building a stronger evidence base for change
- Strengthening inclusive recruitment
- Tackling 鈥榞lass ceilings鈥 and 鈥榮ticky floors鈥
- Solidifying an inclusive workplace
- Nurturing a learning institution
Professor Richard Kirkham, Head of School, said:
The Athena Swan application has come at a timely moment in the School鈥檚 history. As well as further fostering the School鈥檚 approach to solidifying an inclusive environment for both students and staff, the application has encouraged all colleagues in the School to reflect upon, improve and be more transparent about existing practices. Over the next year, the additional oversight provided by the goals in the application, and the new processes and commitments that have been made, will go a long way towards enhancing the School鈥檚 already strong culture. I thank the team enormously for successfully piloting this application through to success.鈥
Professor Richard Kirkham
Head of School
Download our Athena SWAN Bronze Award application (PDF, 7.97)If you have any issues accessing the document or require it in a different format, please get in touch - law@sheffield.ac.uk