Focus on Women in HE

There has been significant progress in all areas of gender equality in the last decade but at times this is slow, and some may say at risk of even going backwards due to the pace of change. 

The Advance HE annual staff and student statistical report shows us that despite comprising the majority of staff working in UK HEIs (54.4%), women remained under-represented among academic staff, staff in SET subject areas and in senior management roles. 

‘Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights’

Tracy Bell-Reeves, Director of Programmes and Events at Advance HE, explains why Hillary Rodham-Clinton’s words from 1995 still strike a chord 25 years later. Read the blog here

Women in HE – accelerating change to tackle treatment and inclusion of women

Alison Johns, Advance HE CEO, highlights some of the stark statistics about women’s representation in higher education ahead of our Women in HE Conference: Conditions for Change - how can we accelerate change that tackles the treatment and inclusion of women? Read the blog here 

Women’s Leadership in Higher Education

Norma Jarboe, Founder and Director of WomenCount, discusses women's participation on boards and the challenges of sustaining the progress that has been made. Read the blog here

Is bullying cutting short careers in many academic institutions?

Ahead of our Women in HE Conference 2020, Jenny Garrett, career coach and member of the panel discussion on sexual misconduct, harassment and violence in the workplace, argues that bullying could be cutting short women’s careers in academia. Read the blog here

From difficult to transformative – the art of handling those hard-to-have conversations

Barbara Bassa, Advance HE Senior Leadership Development Adviser and director of the Senior Women's Leadership Development Programme, points the way to conversations that build strong relationships and improve organisational performance. Read the blog here

Australian HE institutions recognised for work to eliminate gender bias

Thirteen Australian higher education institutions have been recognised for their efforts to improve gender equity and diversity, receiving Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Awards as part of the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) initiative. Read the blog here

Finding my identity: reflections on Aurora

A year on from commencing Aurora, Rosie Russell from the University of Edinburgh offers some reflections on attending Aurora and its lasting impact. Read the blog here

Talking, sharing and learning about leadership in higher education

Phyllida Hancock, Programme Facilitator, summarises the first day of the Edinburgh Aurora cohort 2019-20. Read the blog here

How a women-only programme impacted my career

Suzanne O'Brien, Director of Student Experience and Student Recruitment, Canterbury Christ Church University, explains her path to becoming a facilitator on Aurora and her leadership journey. Read the blog here

“You’re too nice to be a surgeon”

Emily Hotine, Athena Swan Coordinator in the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, explains the impact and biases created by patient perceptions of female surgeons. Read the blog here

Eight ways to demonstrate impact in an Athena SWAN application

Following the receipt of a Silver Athena SWAN award under the expanded charter, Dr Cheryl Smythe, Babraham Institute’s EDI team lead, reflects on their approach to demonstrating impact within their application at the recent Research Institute Advisory Group workshop. Read the blog here