Swansea University becomes first Welsh university to host Athena SWAN Equality Charters awards ceremony

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Swansea University will become the first Welsh university to host Advance HE’s Athena SWAN Equality Charter Awards ceremony when it is held at the University’s Bay Campus later this month.

Athena Swan Silver Banner

Event details:

Location: Great Hall, Swansea University Bay Campus

Date: 16 July, from 11.30am - 4pm

University representatives from across the UK will head to Swansea for the prestigious awards ceremony, in to recognition of the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression and success for all working in higher education and research.

Senior Pro-vice Chancellor Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott and Professor Joy Merrell who led the University’s Athena SWAN Charter application will open the ceremony with a welcome presentation for guests. Sir Paul Nurse, Director of the Francis Crick Institute and Nobel Laureate for Physiology/Medicine will be presenting the Athena SWAN awards.

The event is an opportunity for the UK’s higher education institutes to share ideas on how to promote equality and gender representation. Swansea University as hosts will showcase the ongoing work that has led to Swansea being formally recognised as the first Welsh institution to achieve a Silver Athena SWAN Charter Award in 2017, and one of only the 16th UK institutions to hold an award at this level.

The Advance HE’s Athena SWAN Charter was established to recognise the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression and success for all working in higher education and research initially in  science, technology, engineering, medicine and mathematics (STEMM). In 2015 the Charter expanded to recognise  work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL), 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.

Professor Joy Merrell, Professor of Public Health Nursing, in the College of Human and Health Sciences at Swansea University said;

“We are delighted to be hosting the Advance HE Athena SWAN Charter Awards ceremony which recognises commitment to advancing gender equality. It is particularly poignant as this year marks on such a special year, the centenary of some women in the UK winning the right to vote.

“We take pride in being the first Welsh university to host this prestigious event and we look forward to welcoming colleagues from across the UK to Swansea”. 

For more information on the event please visit: