Cardiff Met Recognised For Gender Equality Employment

Cardiff Met has been awarded Athena SWAN Bronze Institution status for its efforts in eliminating gender bias in the workplace and developing an inclusive culture that values all staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The award recognises the University’s solid foundation in this area and continued commitment across the board to achieving a significant improvement in women’s representation and career progression. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Scott Fleming, Chair of the Self-Assessment Team, said: “This is an important milestone for the University, and the process of preparing the application has helped us to see our key priorities for the next few years. We have made progress, but there is still much work to do.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The University’s new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Cara Aitchison, said: “I am delighted by the recognition shown by this Athena SWAN award which demonstrates the University’s commitment to gender equality. I would like to extend my congratulations and thanks to everybody involved.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Equality Challenge Unit’s Athena SWAN Charter was established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and medicine (STEMM) employment within higher education and research. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cardiff Met is among 100 universities or 65% of the research institutes and departments to be recognized from 158 Athena SWAN Charter applications that were submitted. Seventy two of these were Bronze awards like Cardiff Met’s, 24 Silver and two Golds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In Wales, Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences and School of Psychology were recognised with Silver Departmental awards and Bangor University’s School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography and Swansea University’s College of Engineering received Bronze Departmental awards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Charter covers those in academic roles in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) and arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL); professional and support staff and trans staff and students. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Areas taken into account include representation, progression of students into academia, journey through career milestones and working environment for all staff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​