1. Athena SWAN Getting Started and the Departmental Application Process
28 November 2018
Athena SWAN Getting Started and the Departmental Application Process

2. What is Athena SWAN? Equality Challenge Unit (now called Advance HE)
28 November 2018
What is Athena SWAN?
Equality Challenge Unit (now called Advance HE)
2005 – Women in SET, 2015 – EVERYONE!
Application form – data driven
Accreditation: Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards
Deadlines: April and November
Assessment Panel Process
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3. Why Athena SWAN? University Award University Strategy NIHR Funding
28 November 2018
Why Athena SWAN?
University Award
University Strategy
NIHR Funding
Useful vehicle
Because we should!
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

4. Positive Discrimination
28 November 2018
What Athena SWAN isn’t?
Positive Discrimination
Easy!
A quick fix
A solid process

5. 28 November 2018
“Bronze department awards recognise that in addition to institution-wide policies, the department is working to promote gender equality and to identify and address challenges particular to the department and discipline.”
“In addition to the future planning required for Bronze department recognition, Silver department awards recognise that the department has taken action in response to previously identified challenges and can demonstrate the impact of these actions.”
“A Gold department award recognises significant and sustained progression and achievement by the department in promoting gender equality and to address challenges particular to the discipline. A well-established record of activity and achievement in working towards gender equality should be complemented by data demonstrating continued impact. Gold departments should be beacons of achievement in gender equality and should champion and promote good practice to the wider community.” .

6. The SWAN Process Form the SAT Collect and analyse data
28 November 2018
The SWAN Process
Form the SAT
Collect and analyse data
Timeline of activity before deadline
Write the application
SMART Action Plan
Submit application

7. Role of the SAT SAT Plan Beyond SAT
Responsible for SWAN process
Collation and analysis of data
Progress the application and undertake consultation
Establish action plan and measure any current impact
Role of the SAT
The Self Assessment Team (SAT)
Timeline with milestones
Who does what
Staff consultation – how and when
Agendas and minutes
Termly meetings – increase
Main SAT with a sub group approach
SAT Plan
Beyond SAT
School E&D Committee or sub group?
Monitor and implement – don’t achieve and forget
Communicate achievements and successes

8. The team should comprise a mixture of grades and roles representing different stages of the career ladder (particularly at the early and mid-career stages).
The SAT should be inclusive but maintain a manageable group size.
SAT: Who?
The self-assessment team should be representative of the staff in the department, and should usually include student representation.
Professional services and
Technical staff representation is key for new SWAN process.
The SAT should have good gender balance. BME representation is also very important.

9. Application Form Letter of endorsement from Head of Department
28 November 2018
Application Form
Letter of endorsement from Head of Department
Description of the Department
The Self-Assessment Process
A Picture of the Department
4.1 Student Data
4.2 Academic and Research Data
Supporting and Advancing Women’s Careers
5.1 Key Career Transition Points: Academic Staff
5.2 (SILVER) Key Career Transition Points: Professional Services Staff
5.3 Career Development: Academic Staff
5.4 (SILVER) Career Development: Professional Services Staff
5.5 Flexible Working and Managing Career Breaks
5.6 Organisation and Culture
6. (SILVER) Case Studies
7. Further Information
8. Action Plan

10. Anyone can be a panellist
28 November 2018
Anyone can be a panellist
Academics, HR, EDI, specialists
Anonymous which application
Panel role
5 panellists looking at up to 6 applications (similar discipline or same Institution)
Panel Chair assigned to facilitate
Round table discussion and agreement
ECU Role
ECU/Advance HE moderate, ensuring fairness and keep to criteria
Arrange location (London)
Type up and disseminate feedback
The Assessment Panel

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12. 28 November 2018
The success rate includes all awards that were conferred, whether they were at the level applied or at a lower level (for example, applied at Silver but were conferred a Bronze award). 

13. 28 November 2018
For the November 2017 round, there were 114 submissions for Bronze awards, with 66 being successful at that level (57.9% success rate)

14. 28 November 2018
For the November 2017 round, there were 47 submissions for Silver awards, with 20 being successful at that level and 17 being successful at a lower level and receiving a Bronze award (78.7% success rate).  The unsuccessful number includes submissions where the institution, department or research institute met the Bronze criteria, but were offered a year’s grace of their current Silver award.)

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19. Final Advice Be a panellist Plan your resources Get people on board
28 November 2018
Final Advice
Be a panellist
Plan your resources
Get people on board
Current action
Analyse the data
Tell the story…

20. Resources and Useful Information
28 November 2018
Resources and Useful Information
ECU Website:
Athena SWAN Charter awards handbook, May 2015
Athena SWAN Good Practice Initiatives Web page:
Join University of Bristol Athena SWAN Network on Yammer