The Athena Swan Charter is a national initiative run by sector body, Advance HE, and acts as a valuable framework in advancing gender equity within higher education institutions.
Loughborough’s recent submission was informed by data, expertise and lived experience, all of which were considered in great detail to form an action plan. The University will commit to carrying out this action plan over the next five years with projects spanning the institution.
The submission was led by Pro Vice-Chancellor for EDI and institutional Athena Swan Champion, Professor Charlotte Croffie, supported by the institutional Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team which is representative of the Loughborough University community.
She said: “Loughborough has held Athena Swan awards since 2009 and our 2023 submission is the most inclusive yet. We are really pleased to be including transgender and non-binary staff and students and Professional, Technical and Operational Services staff in our Athena Swan key priorities for the first time.
“This is an exciting period for EDI at Loughborough and our Athena Swan action plan sends a clear message to the Loughborough community that we commit to progressing gender equity in an inclusive and intersectional manner. I would like to thank the institutional Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team and wider university community for the part they played in securing the award and will play in delivering the commitments we have made as part of our action plan.”
Rakhee Patel, EDI Officer for Gender and LGBT+ and primary scribe of the submission added: “The EDI Services team looks forward to bringing colleagues together from across the University to carry out our Athena Swan work in a way that aligns with our other EDI priorities, including the Race Equality Charter. Colleagues have worked really hard to create an action plan that addresses the key gender equity issues at Loughborough and I am delighted that our efforts have been externally recognised.”
The full Athena Swan submission and action plan will be made available to access for all staff and students.