1. Encouraging Women into Engineering Research in Europe.
The Transition to Aston- enhancing the learning experience for first year students with a focus on local and mature students, Amanda Ingleby & Baljit Gill
Encouraging Women into Engineering Research in Europe.
What initiatives work?
Professor Alison Halstead
Pro Vice Chancellor
Strategic Academic Developments
Global Education Dialogues:
The Asia Series
August 9-10, 2012
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
21st International Conference on the First-Year Experience, June 2008

2. The Challenge. European Commission: She Figures, 2009
The Challenge. European Commission: She Figures, Getting off the sticky floor!

3. Conclusions from the 2009 She Figures
The % of women is the smallest at the top of the academic hierarchy
PhD situation slightly better but given the fact the more women than men graduate without proactive policies change will remain slow
The gender pay gap is still a major EU concern. There is no country in the She figures where women's wages are equal to men’s wages, despite universal legalisation to impose equality!!
Official measure of gap stood at 25% in the EU-27 in 2006

4. Athena Swan – Enabling Women’s career progression – A UK initiative
The Athena SWAN Charter recognises and celebrates good employment practice for women working in science, engineering and technology (SET) in higher education and research. 
Aston University Athena Swan Team
Pro Vice Chancellor (Executive)
Executive Dean (EAS)
Head of Group (EAS)
Staff Development
Equality and Diversity Officer
Professor (Life and Health)
Lecturer (Life and Health)
Lecturer (Engineering)

5. Aston University, Birmingham, UK
Students: 10,000
Engineering and Applied Sciences
Life and Health Sciences
Business School
Languages and Social Sciences
80% of all courses include an internship
Top 5 for Graduate Employment
Executive decision to review progress of women

6. A review of the top University Committees
2005 male
2005
female
2012 male
2012 female
Vice Chancellor
Male until 2006
Female from
2006
Female from 2006 to date
Executive Team 11 1 6

7. What did the benchmarking in Engineering at Aston University tell us?

8. A review of promotions in Engineering

9. What have we done
Increase the internal and external profile of female academics that contribute to National or International Events.
Continue to encourage and support women to apply for senior roles and promotions – by clarifying the criteria and opportunities for all
Pilot a new mentoring scheme for women in Science and Engineering to support these activities and involve undergraduate, postgraduate students

10. Successful initiatives in practice
It is clear that policies without accountability and enforcement measures are not enough
Collaboration
Networking
Sharing,
Everyone working together in a mutually beneficial way
Brings about progress but change is slow!