The Equality Charters - Good Practice Initiatives

The new, evidence-based Good Practice Database is for those working to advance gender and race equality in higher education through Athena Swan and the Race Equality Charter.

The database aims to celebrate the breadth of gender and race equality initiatives taking place across the higher education sector and to provide Advance HE members with practical ideas and encourage them to trial new initiatives adapted to their contexts. The initiatives are drawn from recent analysis of selected successful applications. 
Race Equality Charter

Onboarding the Race Equality Charter Journey

06 Oct 2020 | Dr Sammy Li and Sheena Griffiths
 Read the blog

Use the search filters below to find Athena Swan and Race Equality Charter initiative application types.
Athena Swan Good Practice Initiative Image
School of Life Sciences: Academic promotions
Keele University
Initiative Theme: Promotion
Target Group: Academic staff
The School recognised that it had seen a limited number of female academic promotions and had very few existing female senior academics.
Athena Swan Good Practice Initiative Image
School of Life Sciences: Gender balance
Keele University
Initiative Theme: Gender balance
Target Group: Academic staff
The School wanted to improve the representation of women and ensure a female friendly environment, particularly among its external examiners.
Athena Swan Good Practice Initiative Image
School of Life Sciences: Latest News report
Keele University
Initiative Theme: Culture, Gender balance
Target Group: Academic staff
The School planned to maintain a positive working environment through improving the visibility of underrepresented staff.
Athena Swan Good Practice Initiative Image
School of Life Sciences: Promotion
Keele University
Initiative Theme: Promotion
Target Group: Academic staff
In order to support the career development of departmental staff, the School developed their staff performance review and enhancement process to include a new policy that implemented the rotation of senior administrative roles every five years (eg Programme Director).
Athena Swan Good Practice Initiative Image
School of Life Sciences: Flexible working
Keele University
Initiative Theme: Flexible working, Work/Life balance
Target Group: Academic staff, Professional and support staff
The School of Life Sciences put an initiative in place to promote an inclusive culture through the support for flexible working conditions, aimed at young families, in particular.
Athena Swan Good Practice Initiative Image
School of Biological Sciences: Recruitment
University of Edinburgh
Initiative Theme: Recruitment
Target Group: Postgraduate students
A self-analysis of the School's MSc admissions process found that proportionally fewer females were applying for postgraduate study than at undergraduate level.
Athena Swan Good Practice Initiative Image
School of Biological Sciences: Promotion
University of Edinburgh
Initiative Theme: Promotion, Recruitment
Target Group: Academic staff
The School aimed to increase the number of applicants for promotions, particularly among junior academic women.
Athena Swan Good Practice Initiative Image
Queen's University Belfast: Recruitment
Queen's University Belfast
Initiative Theme: Promotion, Recruitment
Target Group: Academic staff
The submission set out to increase the visibility of its existing female staff and publicise its previous Athena SWAN submission.
Athena Swan Good Practice Initiative Image
Queen's University Belfast: Promotion
Queen's University Belfast
Initiative Theme: Promotion
Target Group: Academic staff
The School demonstrated clear initiatives to address the low representation of female staff at lecturer level, which included revising its recruitment procedures and postdoctoral career support.
Athena Swan Good Practice Initiative Image
Primary Care Health Sciences: Gender balance
University of Oxford
Initiative Theme: Gender balance, Promotion
Target Group: Academic staff
Initiatives were set out to increase the number of women in senior positions, after the department recognised that there was a gender imbalance at senior level.
Athena Swan Good Practice Initiative Image
Primary Care Health Sciences: Career development
University of Oxford
Initiative Theme: Career development
Target Group: Academic staff, Professional and support staff
Feedback from the department’s annual staff survey suggested a lack of awareness concerning its career development schemes, particularly among female staff.
Athena Swan Good Practice Initiative Image
Primary Health Care Sciences: Work/Life balance
University of Oxford
Initiative Theme: Work/Life balance
Target Group: Academic staff, Professional and support staff
Staff were encouraged to attend university organised courses on maintaining a healthy work/life balance, during which options concerning flexible and part-time working were highlighted.