As part of our on-going support to Athena Swan applicants, we provide universities and research institutes the opportunity to receive feedback on a draft organisation-level application for free once per five-year cycle.
Please note: Applicants should request a review at least six weeks before the date they intend to send the draft to us.
Already a Athena Swan Member?
If you are already a Athena Swan member you will find all the latest application guidance, forms and templates in Advance HE Connect in the Athena Swan Members Network group (members access only). Please make sure you are signed up to Connect by 15 January 2024, as after that time all the member resources will be removed from the Advance HE website and only available to members via Connect.
If you are already a member, you can log in here, or sign up to access the group here.
What is a Remote Developmental Review?
Once per 5-year cycle, universities and research institutes can receive feedback on a draft Athena Swan application from an Advance HE Associate. Through a written report and a Zoom call, Associates will provide detailed feedback on the application and identify areas that may need further development.
When will we receive our Remote Developmental Review?
Applicants can book a Remote Development Review at a time that suits them, as long as they give Advance HE at least six weeks' notice before sending us the draft.
Remote Development Reviews will most benefit applicants who are nearly ready to submit. We recommend booking a review for approximately 3-6 months prior to the submission deadline, allowing time for the review to be undertaken and for applicants to make revisions in advance of their submission.
Generally, the more complete your draft is, the more comprehensive and useful your feedback will be. As a rule of thumb, it is better to submit a whole rough first draft than one that is missing whole sections.
What happens during a remote developmental review?
Stage 1:
- Institutions and research institutes book a remote development review using the booking form below, giving Advance HE at least six weeks' notice.
Stage 2:
- Institutions and research institutes submit a near-final draft application and an ‘interactive coversheet’ via email by the agreed deadline.
Stage 3:
- Institutions and research institutes receive written feedback from an Advance HE Associate within 3 weeks of submitting.
Stage 4:
- A Zoom call takes place between the application key contact and Advance HE Associate to discuss the feedback (up to one hour in the week after they receive their written feedback).
What is an ‘interactive coversheet’?
An interactive coversheet is a dialogic feedback tool which encourages applicants to reflect on the progress of their draft and enables them to guide the feedback they receive from their reviewer. Applicants complete part of the document and submit it with their draft application. The reviewer then completes the other parts of the document and it is returned to the applicant along with an annotated draft. More information and guidance will be provided to applicants as they approach their remote development review. For more information about this, watch the video below.