St George’s, University of London has received a coveted Athena SWAN institutional ‘Silver’ Award from Advance HE in recognition of its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion for the whole University community.
The university previously held an institutional Bronze award, but the Silver award is a step change, recognising a significant record of activity, progress and impact in ensuring gender equality, developing solutions to challenges and implementing actions to achieve impact across the full range of its work and activities.
St George’s will hold the Silver Award until 2021. As well as reflecting St George’s commitment to, and success in, equality, diversity and inclusion, the award allows access to important National Institute for Health Research funding.
The university is particularly proud of its successes in encouraging women to apply for, and succeed in obtaining, promotion at all levels. Its promotion criteria have been amended and it now provides more support and advice for all candidates. As a result, it has achieved equal success rates for male and female staff in promotional rounds and the proportion of female professors has increased over the past five years from 18% to 31%.
Principal of St George’s, Professor Jenny Higham, said: “I am thrilled that we have been recognised for all the work that is being done to support our staff and promote equality. This demonstrates that equality is genuinely an institutional priority for St George’s, and that it is a supportive place for women to embark on or continue their careers.”
Professor Deborah Bowman, Deputy Principal (Institutional Affairs), led the Self-Assessment Team at St George’s which leads on Athena SWAN. She said: “This news is something of which the whole university can be proud. It was a real team effort reflecting everyone’s work in promoting equality and ensuring that St George’s is a place where everyone can thrive. The award provides a terrific springboard on which to continue our work as we implement our ambitious, but vital, Athena SWAN action plan.”
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