The Department ensures that all academics undertaking parental, adoption and/or shared parental leave are aware of the Imperial College Elsie Widdowson Fellowship award. This scheme provides central funding of 50% of the salary costs for 12 months. This enables the returning academic to be relieved of teaching and administrative duties so that they may concentrate fully on research. The Department has made this even more flexible by offering the returning academic the possibility of using the funds for research expenses (including funding additional staff or students). All female academics who have taken maternity leave in the last 5 years have taken this up. Subjectively, they have found it to be a great asset in renewing their research programs.
Target Group
Academic staff
Initiative Theme
Accommodating caring responsibilities
Career breaks
Retention
Initiative institution
Imperial College
Application type
Athena Swan Initiative
Publication date