Athena Swan
The University of Warwick holds a Silver Athena Swan award.
The Athena Swan CharterLink opens in a new window is a framework to support and transform gender equality within higher education and research.
In January 2024, the University of Warwick successfully renewed its Athena Swan Silver award for a further five year cycle until January 2029. These webpages will shortly be updated with all relevant information in relation to this renewal, including being able to read our full 2024 application submission.
In the meantime, you can read our 2024 -2028 Athena Swan action plan here.
In committing to the principles of the Transformed Charter which were updated in 2021, we recognise that we join a global community with a shared goal of addressing gender inequalities and embedding inclusive cultures. Each institution, research institute, department and directorate has different gender equality challenges and development priorities. These priorities are developed based on an understanding of the local evidence-base and national and global gender equality issues.
In determining our priorities and interventions, we commit to:
1. Adopting robust, transparent, and accountable processes for gender equality work, including:
- Embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion in our culture, decision-making, and partnerships, and holding ourselves and others in our institution accountable.
- Undertaking evidence-based, transparent self-assessment processes to direct our priorities and interventions for gender equality and evaluating our progress to inform our continuous development.
- Ensuring that gender equality work is distributed appropriately, is recognised, and properly rewarded.
2. Addressing structural inequalities and social injustices that manifest as differential experiences and outcomes for staff and students.
3. Tackling behaviours and cultures that detract from the safety and collegiality of our work and study environments for people of all genders, including not tolerating gender-based violence, discrimination, bullying, harassment, or exploitation.
4. Understanding and addressing intersectional inequalities.
5. Recognising that individuals can determine their own gender identity, and tackling the specific issues faced by trans and non-binary people.
6. Examining gendered occupational segregation, and elevating the status, voice and career opportunities of any identified under-valued and at-risk groups.
7. Mitigating the gendered impact of caring responsibilities and career breaks and supporting flexibility and the maintenance of a healthy ‘whole life balance’.
8. Mitigating the gendered impact of short-term and casual contracts for staff seeking sustainable careers.
Oversight of University-wide activities towards gender equality and the institutional Athena Swan application is taken by the Institutional Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (SAT). You can read more about the SAT hereLink opens in a new window.
We are proud to have retained our Silver Athena Swan award in 2024. This is an important indicator of our continued work to address gender inequalities at Warwick.
“I am delighted that our silver Athena-Swan award has been renewed until 2029. We are very proud of our progress so far, recognising that there is still a lot more to do.
It was a real team effort to prepare our submission, but the hard work doesn’t stop on receipt of the Award. The team will continue to work in collaboration with the Gender Taskforce, Social Inclusion and the wider University to deliver our 2024-2028 action plan over the next five years.
I would like to thank colleagues on the institutional Self-Assessment Team for their hard work and support and, likewise, those on their departmental SATs.”
Professor Kate Seers (Chair of the Athena Swan SAT for the 2024 submission).
Get in touch
If you have any items/issues that you feel need be raised and tackled at an Institutional level, or if are working on an initiative that might support our goals, please get in touch with the Athena Swan Institutional SAT:
Athena Swan at Warwick
The University's Social Inclusion Strategy includes an aim to have all departments hold an Athena Swan award.
There are three levels of Athena Swan award:
Bronze
See criteria and award holders
Bronze awards are based on three criteria:
- A: Structures and processes underpin and recognise gender equality work.
- B: Evidence-based recognition of the key issues facing the department.
- C: Action plan to address identified key issues.
Bronze Renewals have one additional criterion; D: Demonstration of progress against the applicant’s previously identified priorities.
The following departments currently hold a Bronze award:
- Centre of Applied Linguistics.
- Department of Economics.
- Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR).
- Centre for Education Studies.
- Department of Computer Science.
- School for Cross-Faculty Studies.
- Institute for Employment Research (IER).
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies (CIM).
- Mathematics Institute.
- Department of Philosophy.
- Warwick Foundation Studies.
Silver
See criteria and award holders
Silver awards are based on five criteria:
- A: Structures and processes underpin and recognise gender equality work.
- B: Evidence-based recognition of the key issues facing the department.
- C: Action plan to address identified key issues.
- D: Demonstration of progress against the applicant’s previously identified priorities.
- E: Evidence of success addressing gender inequality.
Silver Renewals don't require departments to meet criterion E.
The University of Warwick currently holds an Institutional Silver Award.
The following departments currently hold a Silver award (click the link to read their submission):
- Department of Chemistry.
- School of Engineering.
- School of Law.
- School of Life Sciences.
- Department of Physics.
- Politics and International Studies.
- Department of Psychology.
- Department of Sociology.
- Department of Statistics.
- Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG).
- Warwick Medical School.
Gold
See criteria and award holders
Gold awards are based on six criteria:
- A: Structures and processes underpin and recognise gender equality work.
- B: Evidence-based recognition of the key issues facing the department.
- C: Action plan to address identified key issues.
- D: Demonstration of progress against the applicant’s previously identified priorities.
- E: Evidence of success addressing gender inequality.
- F: Evidence of sector-leading gender equality practice and supporting others to improve.
Gold Renewals don't require departments to meet criteria E and F.
The following departments currently hold a Gold award (click the link to read their submission):
Find out more about Athena Swan work at departmental and institutional level using the links below:
Excellence in Gender Equality Award
The Warwick Institutional Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team and the Gender Taskforce continue to run these awards to recognise Individual staff, students and team's commitment to gender equality, and to share best practice.
Conference Support Awards
The Conference Support Award provides a contribution of up to £200 to cover extra care costs that an individual will incur in order to attend any conference/ workshop/ training event that is essential to the effective performance of their role.
Successes and Best Practice
Read more about the work we've been doing towards gender equality, success stories of women at Warwick, reports of Warwick’s Athena work, and best practice Athena initiatives at institutional and departmental level.
Knowledge Hub
If you have any questions about Athena Swan, please contact us or contact Advance HE directly on .
Please be aware - The Knowledge Hub is currently being updated, and so some sections may not yet have the latest links and information available. Please do bear with us while we work through and amend each of the sections. Thank you.
- You can find more about the Athena Swan Transformed Charter on the Advance HE WebsiteLink opens in a new window.
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To access Athena Swan Transformed Charter's application guidance, forms, templates and other resources, please log in or join the
Athena Swan Member Network Group on ConnectLink opens in a new window (members access only - you can sign up via this link). These resources are now only available via Connect.
- In advance of your application, don't forget to complete the intention to submit formLink opens in a new window.
- When you do make your submission, please ensure you follow the GDPR compliant submission process.