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Athena Swan Ireland FAQs: Assessment and Results

The answers to some frequently asked questions about the assessment and results of the Athena Swan Ireland charter.

How will my application be assessed?

Athena Swan Ireland applications are assessed by peer-review panels comprised of staff working across higher education and research in Ireland. Panels assess applications on the basis of the published criteria, using a scoring matrix, and are required to submit written feedback justifying their award recommendations. You can read more about our peer-review process here.

What training does Advance HE provide panellists for peer review panels? 

To ensure the robustness and consistency of the review panels, Advance HE train all review panel chairs and panellists who sign up to take part in each round.

When will the results be announced? 

Advance HE aims to release the results of Athena Swan Ireland applications within 12 weeks of the submission deadline. Written feedback will be shared with applicants with the result outcome.

Will our submission be published online? 

Due to Advance HE data protection policies, and the data protection agreements that are in place between us and Athena Swan Ireland applicants, we process submissions as confidential (including requiring panellists to sign non-disclosure forms) and do not publish submissions. However, we encourage all successful applicants to publish their own submissions online to allow for transparency and sharing of good practice. We have provided a GDPR briefing giving guidance on what redactions may be appropriate prior to publication. This can be found in the resource pack.

How long will my award be valid for?

Athena Swan Ireland awards are valid for four years. This four-year period is calculated from the submission round in which the application receives an award. For example, a department applying in April 2022 that is successful will hold a valid award until April 2026. If you are an award holder, your existing award will be valid throughout the review process. If you are an award holder and wish to check your award validity period, this information will be in your award results letter.