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The University of Nottingham has received yet more accolades for promoting and advancing the careers of women — both members of staff and students — in science, engineering and technology (SET).
The Schools of Pharmacy and Biosciences have been awarded Silver Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) awards. The judges have also renewed the institution’s Bronze Award for a further three years — demonstrating that the University as a whole has a solid foundation of policies and practices to eliminate gender bias and an inclusive culture that values female staff.
Professor Katherine Smart who chairs The University of Nottingham’s Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Committee (WiNSET) said: "We are delighted that The University of Nottingham continues to be recognised for supporting female scientists and engineers to establish and progress through research and academic careers. The University now also holds four silver awards for individual Schools in the Faculties of Science and Engineering demonstrating our commitment to the Athena Charter."
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The School of Pharmacy has been awarded a Silver SWAN Award for its achievements in recruiting permanent female staff, encouraging their promotion and career development. The judges applauded the school’s support for flexible working — such as career breaks and working from home.
The judges praised the School of Biosciences for its work in actively encouraging women to apply for promotion, helping them to develop the appropriate skills to make them credible candidates and monitoring workloads.
Last year the University's School of Psychology and the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering also won silver awards for attracting women and improving their career prospects.
Professor Karen Cox, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Human Resources said: “The university is committed to promoting polices that enable both men and women to achieve success in their chosen careers. We are therefore particularly pleased that this work in relation to supporting the research careers of female staff has been recognised by the Athena awards.”
Launched in 2005 the Athena SWAN Charter is supported by the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET and by Equality Challenge Unit.
Julie Ashdown, Athena SWAN coordinator, said “This year's record number of awards is a clear indication that even in harsh economic times institutions are working hard to attract and promote female talent.”
The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Birmingham on Tuesday 29 September 2009.
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 100 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and Times Higher (THE) World University Rankings.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to RAE 2008, with almost 60 per cent of all research defined as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Research Fortnight analysis of RAE 2008 ranks the University 7th in the UK by research power. In 27 subject areas, the University features in the UK Top Ten, with 14 of those in the Top Five.
The University provides innovative and top quality teaching, undertakes world-changing research, and attracts talented staff and students from 150 nations. Described by The Times as Britain's "only truly global university", it has invested continuously in award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. Twice since 2003 its research and teaching academics have won Nobel Prizes. The University has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in both 2006 (International Trade) and 2007 (Innovation — School of Pharmacy), and was named ‘Entrepreneurial University of the Year’ at the Times Higher Education Awards 2008.
Nottingham was designated as a Science City in 2005 in recognition of its rich scientific heritage, industrial base and role as a leading research centre. Nottingham has since embarked on a wide range of business, property, knowledge transfer and educational initiatives (www.science-city.co.uk) in order to build on its growing reputation as an international centre of scientific excellence. The University of Nottingham is a partner in Nottingham: the Science City.