Two Keele schools have been successful in achieving the renewal of their institutional Bronze Athena SWAN award.

Both the School of Psychology and the School of Allied Health Professions have successfully renewed their Athena SWAN bronze awards, highlighting their dedication to promoting equality and diversity across the workplace.

Since September 2005 Keele University has been a member of the Athena SWAN Charter, which was set up to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine employment in higher education and research.

In 2015 the charter was expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law, as well as in professional and support roles, and for trans staff and students. 

The Charter now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and Keele University and its Schools are committed to the principles of the Charter, and continue to strive towards higher levels of award recognition.

Membership of the Charter, with its bronze, silver and gold SWAN recognition awards, highlights a workplace which is working towards sustaining equitable working environments enabling universities to identify themselves as employers of choice, not only to their staff, but to students, stakeholders, research councils and industry.  

Keele currently holds an institutional Athena SWAN Bronze award, one departmental Silver award and 12 departmental Bronze awards.

Head of the School of Allied Health Professions, Anne O’ Brien, and Co-chair of the Faculty of Natural Sciences Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDI), Dr Sue Sherman thanked members of both Schools' EDI Committees, as well as paying tribute to Dr Hannah Barjat and Professor Susan Bruce for their support and advice in preparing both award submissions.

Mrs O’Brien said: “Equality in all forms, including gender, has always been important to allied health professionals, so as a School we are delighted to have retained our Bronze Athena SWAN award.”

Dr Helen Williams, EDI lead for the School of Psychology, added: “We are very proud to have renewed our Bronze Athena SWAN award. This renewal demonstrates our continued commitment to tackling equality issues, and promoting gender equality within the School of Psychology.”