Posted on 06/10/2016
The Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London has won a Silver Athena SWAN award from the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU), recognising exceptional commitment and excellence in the advancement of gender equality, it was announced today, (6 October 2016), by Dr Ruth Gilligan, ECU’s Athena SWAN manager.
The Department is one of only 14 UK Psychology Departments to receive the silver award level which it is has held since 2012. This year, the ECU used expanded criteria to include gender equality for professional and support staff, as well as focusing on academic careers. The award acknowledges the impact of the Department’s work on the career development of young researchers through outstanding early career training opportunities, the creation of an inclusive environment in which a high proportion of women progress to senior leadership levels, and the closing of the gender pay gap at the professorial level.
Professor Narender Ramnani, Departmental Athena SWAN team leader, said,
“We have made some significant strides in the last few years, and our application makes clear the evidence of the ways in which our core values have made a tangible impact on how things work in our Department. As a result, our staff and students benefit from an outstanding environment and from equality of opportunity. We are delighted to win this award.”
Professor Kathy Rastle, Head of Department, said,
“We have worked really hard for this award over a long period of time. I'm delighted that we have received a silver award which reflects our commitment to equality and diversity in all that we do.”
Read the Psychology Department's Athena SWAN silver award application here (PDF)
Launched in 2005, Athena SWAN was originally aimed at advancing women's progression in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM). In May 2015 the charter was expanded to address gender equality more broadly, not just barriers to progression that affect women, and to cover work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences and business.
Of 158 applications across all disciplines submitted under the new criteria in this round, 2 were awarded Gold, 24 were awarded Silver and 72 received Bronze, including a Bronze award renewal for the Department of Computer Science at Royal Holloway.
Focusing on gender equality across departments
Royal Holloway is committed to the aims and principles of Athena SWAN and the majority of Royal Holloway’s STEMM departments hold Athena SWAN awards. This recognises the good practice and principles of equality which are firmly established in our ethos, and reflects the College’s original foundation in 1849 (Bedford College) and 1886 (Royal Holloway College) as among the first institutions offering higher education for women.