School of Psychology awarded Athena SWAN Bronze award

Bangor University’s School of Psychology has been awarded an Athena SWAN Bronze Award by the Equality Challenge Unit. The Equality Challenge Unit supports higher education institutions across the UK to advance equality and diversity for all staff and students. The ECU’s Athena SWAN charter specifically recognises commitment to tackling gender inequality in higher education.

The Bronze department award was given in recognition that in addition to university-wide policies, the School of Psychology has identified particular challenges regarding gender equality, as well as developing a plan for the future that builds on this assessment and works towards removing barriers to progression and success for all its staff and students. The award will remain valid until 2019 when it can be renewed or superseded by a higher level Athena SWAN award.

Professor John Parkinson, Head of School, said:

“I am delighted that we have been successful in our application for the Athena SWAN Bronze award. This has been an excellent team effort, dynamically led by Emily Cross and supported by a host of committed individuals. The full application, including myriad analyses about gender equality at all levels (from undergraduate through to professor) in the School, will soon be posted on Bangor Psychology’s website for everyone to see. Importantly the Athena SWAN self-assessment team has drafted an action plan that we will be aiming to implement over the next few years to further equalise the work and study environment for all members of the School.”

The School of Psychology is the second school in the University to be awarded a Bronze Department Award, following the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science’s success in being awarded Bronze in 2015. Bangor University also holds an Athena SWAN Bronze University award. 

Publication date: 3 May 2016