The University of Aberdeen's commitment to advancing gender equality has been underlined with confirmation that every individual School now holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award.
The School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture and the Institute of Dentistry both officially received the award this week.
Advance HE’s Athena SWAN Charter recognises commitment to the advancement of gender equality in academic, professional and support roles, and recognise departments and institutions taking action to identify and overcome barriers to career progression for all.
The University has made significant improvement in the working conditions of its staff. Since the original Athena SWAN application in 2012 it has enhanced these conditions by launching various initiatives including: making equality and diversity training mandatory for all staff; introducing several networks (parents, senior women, disability, menopause, staff and postgraduate students LGBT); and striving to ensure promotions and selection committees have a balanced gender representation.
In 2016 the School of Psychology became the first department from the University to receive an Athena SWAN Bronze Award followed by the School of Natural and Computing Sciences. These two latest awards mean every single School holds the accreditation.
University Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor George Boyne, said: “Equality is integral to our University’s founding statement of being ‘open to all’ and I am delighted that the entire University community has now been recognised for its commitment to gender equality.
“I send my warmest congratulations to the staff at the School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture and the Institute of Dentistry, and all other staff who have worked to achieve this.
“This is not the end of the process though, and I know work will continue throughout the University to ensure no member of staff or student is disadvantaged on grounds of gender, race, sexual orientation or any other factor.”