Faculties' gender equality efforts recognised with Athena SWAN awards

Two Oxford humanities faculties have had their efforts to advance gender equality recognised with Athena SWAN Bronze awards from Advance HE.

The Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages has received a Bronze award, becoming the fifth faculty to achieve this status. While the Faculty of History has held Bronze since 2019, and its application to renew the award for another five years has just been approved.

The Athena Swan Charter is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education and research. It recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women. More information on the award scheme is on their website.

Professor Dan Grimley, Head of Humanities, said: “I am delighted that the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages has achieved the Athena SWAN Bronze award, and that the Faculty of History’s award has been renewed. This has taken a lot of hard work and honest reflection about how to advance gender equality and tackle the obstacles facing women in academia.

“Five of our humanities faculties have now reached Bronze status, which reflects our deep commitment to advancing gender equality, and indeed diversity, equality and inclusion in the broadest sense. Of course, receiving this award is far from the end of the process and we know there is much more work to do.”

History Faculty’s Bronze award renewed for five years

The Faculty of History has achieved some notable successes since its first award, including the creation of a new pathway within their MSt/MPhil in History degree focussing on Gender, Queer, and Women’s History; and the creation of chairs in Women’s History and the History of Sexualities.

Dr Suzan Meryem Rosita Kalayci, who worked with Dr Hannah Skoda as Athena SWAN Academic Co-Leads to put together the application, said: “Receiving the Athena SWAN Bronze award is a significant and welcome recognition of the work we’ve undertaken across the Faculty. This process has been rigorous and reflective, and we are proud of the resulting action plan which signals our clear commitment to equity and inclusivity in all aspects of our academic life.

“Colleagues at all levels—undergraduates, postgraduates, early-career researchers, and Professional, Technical and Operational staff—have contributed meaningfully to shaping our goals and commitments. Their insights have been essential to making this a truly Faculty-wide initiative.”

New Bronze award for the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages

The Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages has held meetings bringing together staff and students to discuss gender equality and diversity more generally, and has now implemented a clear action plan to make the Faculty more inclusive.

Professor Jonathan Thacker, who is Chair of the Faculty and was closely involved with the submission from the start of the process, said: 'The Faculty is delighted to have received the Athena SWAN bronze award and is grateful to all members of the academic and professional services staff and, indeed, to our students, who contributed to the lively and challenging discussions and meetings that underpinned the submission.

“We have welcomed the discussions about gender equality as well as the chance to reflect on EDI more generally that the submission entailed. We now have an action plan which is being implemented and which will help us make further, measurable improvements in these areas and to become a better, more inclusive place to work for everybody."