Award for championing gender equality

The University of Lincoln has been recognised for championing gender equality in the workplace with an Athena SWAN award.

The University’s School of Psychology has been granted a Bronze Athena SWAN award – a status conferred upon universities, research institutes and academic departments for demonstrating their commitment to tackling gender inequality in higher education. It is valid for the next three years. The application was spearheaded by Dr Amanda Roberts and Dr Kirsten McKenzie with support from Head of School, Professor Tim Hodgson, and the award was officially presented at the Athena SWAN Awards Ceremony on Monday (12th December 2016) at the University of Liverpool.

The Athena SWAN panel commended Lincoln’s School of Psychology on a range of initiatives, including supporting early careers researchers, funding and application development, ensuring gender equality when filling new positions, and engaging directly with students to improve their experience. In May 2015 the Athena SWAN charter was expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law and in professional and support roles, and for trans staff and students. The charter now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women.

Dr McKenzie said: “Gender equality is an issue that affects everyone, and gaining this recognition from Athena SWAN demonstrates our commitment to providing an inclusive and positive environment for all students and staff.

“This builds upon the excellent work already done by other University departments, which have also been awarded Bronze through the Athena SWAN Charter. We are extremely proud of this achievement, and look forward to furthering our engagement with Athena SWAN going forward.”