Athena Swan Charter

Diversity monitoring data and the UK Athena Swan Charter

We have revised our data monitoring guidance to give more clarity when collecting data that relates to sex as a protected characteristic and the Equality Act 2010, and when collecting data for work to create a wider inclusive culture.

Post-May 2015 Athena Swan principles

The Athena Swan Charter is based on ten key principles. By being part of Athena Swan, institutions are committing to a progressive Charter; adopting these principles within their policies, practice, action plans and culture.

• We acknowledge that academia cannot reach its full potential unless it can benefit from the talents of all.
• We commit to advancing gender equality in academia, in particular, addressing the loss of women across the career pipeline and the absence of women from senior academic, professional and support roles.
• We commit to addressing unequal gender representation across academic disciplines and professional and support functions. In this we recognise disciplinary differences including:
  • the relative underrepresentation of women in senior roles in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL)
  • the particularly high loss rate of women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM)
• We commit to tackling the gender pay gap.
• We commit to removing the obstacles faced by women, in particular, at major points of career development and progression including the transition from PhD into a sustainable academic career.
• We commit to addressing the negative consequences of using short-term contracts for the retention and progression of staff in academia, particularly women.
• We commit to tackling the discriminatory treatment often experienced by trans people.
• We acknowledge that advancing gender equality demands commitment and action from all levels of the organisation and in particular active leadership from those in senior roles.
• We commit to making and mainstreaming sustainable structural and cultural changes to advance gender equality, recognising that initiatives and actions that support individuals alone will not sufficiently advance equality.
• All individuals have identities shaped by several different factors. We commit to considering the intersection of gender and other factors wherever possible.

Transformed Athena Swan Charter principles

Transformed Charter principles were published in November 2020. Members are invited to consider and commit to these new principles ahead of submitting their first transformed charter application.

For an information pack and resources, please see the transformed UK Athena Swan charter here.