Awards hat-trick recognises progress on gender equality

Three new Athena SWAN Charter awards have acknowledged the advancement of gender equality at the University.

Three faculties have achieved awards, including a silver for the Faculty of Biological Sciences, building on its bronze award earned in 2017.

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Leeds University Business School have both been granted bronze awards.

The Athena SWAN Charter is designed to recognise advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all.

Leeds Gender Framework

At Leeds, faculties work towards achieving Athena SWAN recognition as part of the Leeds Gender Framework initiative, which is supported by the University's Equality Policy Unit and academic leadership from Professor Louise Bryant and Professor Steve Scott.

I am proud to be leading the University’s Gender Framework, which has given me the opportunity to work with a diverse group of wonderful colleagues who share this goal for Leeds.

Professor Bryant said: "I am delighted by this outcome. The Athena SWAN scheme sets a very high bar for its awards and to achieve an uplift to silver for the Faculty of Biological Sciences and bronze awards for first submissions from Business School and Social Sciences is a testament to a great deal of hard work and a commitment to equality demonstrated by many staff.

"Achieving equality is an essential goal of universities who wish to recruit, retain and develop the potential of all staff and students regardless of gender. The Athena SWAN chartership also requires us to recognise and develop the talents of our LGBT+ colleagues and staff at the intersection of race and gender.

"I am proud to be leading the University’s Gender Framework, which has given me the opportunity to work with a diverse group of wonderful colleagues who share this goal for Leeds."

Professor Scott added: "On behalf of the University leadership team, I’d like to give thanks to all those who have worked very hard to demonstrate, through the submission process, why these awards are merited."

The latest awards complement existing achievements, details of which can be found on the Equality website.

Further information

Visit the Leeds Gender Framework initiative. For media enquiries, contact  pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk.