Athena SWAN

The School of Engineering secured an Athena SWAN Bronze award on 31st March 2021.

The Athena SWAN Charter was established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research. Since then it has broadened in remit recognising advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all.

To address these principles and to apply for an Athena Swan award, the School of Engineering has set up a Self-Assessment Team (SAT) to put together the Schools application for a Bronze Award. The SAT has now become the School of Engineering Wellbeing and EDI Group (SEED).

School of Engineering Wellbeing and EDI Group (SEED)

In order to obtain an Athena Swan award, gender profiled data on student and staff must be presented throughout the pipeline, from undergraduate through to professor and including administrative as well as technical staff. To understand the cultural issues in the School, the SAT carried out a survey, in November 2019, of all staff. The survey analysis undertaken by Polwarth Strategy Ltd can be found here.

More recently a survey was circulated in May 2020 on whether there were any gender differences in the impact of COVID-19 on working from home. The results from this can be found here.

Through these data collection processes, the status of the School in terms of student and staff gender ratios along with the cultural aspects will be shown and presented in the application. An action plan was developed in order to put in place measures to address any issues that arise in the application.

Through this process, the School will become more aware of gender equality issues in Departmental and School structures and together we will make a plan to address the challenges faced.

If you have any questions about the process or would like to contribute to the application or be involved in the SEED, please contact Associate Professor Bidisha Ghosh (bghosh@tcd.ie).

Trinity College has been awarded a bronze award and has developed a Strategy for Diversity and Inclusion.

Recently an Associate Vice-Provost for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Professor Clodagh Brook was appointed and a Champions Network has been set up.
The College applications and action plans can be found here and renewal in 2018.