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UCC School of Applied Social Studies receives Athena SWAN Bronze Award
- Athena SWAN Bronze Award celebrates the breadth of gender equality initiatives led by UCC School of Applied Social Studies.
UCC School of Applied Social Studies has been awarded Athena SWAN Bronze accreditation for positive gender equality practices in higher education. The award follows an assessment of gender equality across the School’s policies, practices and structures, and recognises its commitment to gender equality and inclusion for all.
The Athena Swan Charter is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research. Established in 2005, it has grown into a global initiative that addresses gender inequality while also promoting a more inclusive and intersectional culture across institutions.
To achieve the award, the School was required to develop a four-year action plan based on a rigorous data driven 18-month audit of gender equality practices. Examples of steps being taken to drive gender equity over the next four years include:
- Challenging harmful gender stereotypes and countering the devaluation of the social sciences.
- Increasing the representation of senior lecturers and professors within the School.
- Addressing issues of precarity and promoting greater inclusion for staff employed on hourly, occasional, and fixed-term contracts.
Professor Eleanor Bantry White, Head of the School of Applied Social Studies, said: “This award is a milestone for our School and a collective achievement for our community. The Athena SWAN process has given us the opportunity to reflect honestly on our culture and practices, and to set goals in our ambitious intersectional action plan. We are proud of the progress made so far, and committed to ensuring our School continues to be a place where all staff and students can thrive.”
Professor Stephen Graham, Head of UCC College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, said: “The Athena Swan Bronze award reflects the dedication of colleagues and students to build a more equitable and inclusive environment. The award reinforces the need to ensure that our work on equality, diversity, and inclusion is continuous and embedded in everything we do. I want to commend the School of Applied Social Studies for their leadership in this important work.”
Sarah Fink, Head of Athena Swan Ireland, said: “This Bronze Athena Swan award highlights the fantastic commitment of University College Cork, School of Applied Social Studies, in bringing about change through impactful and sustainable gender equality initiatives in higher education across Ireland. Congratulations to all those who work so hard to achieve and sustain this recognition.”
The steering committee, led by Dr Caitríona Ní Laoire, was comprised of Dr Rosie Meade, Dr Gill Harold, Dr Nicola Maxwell, Fionnuala O’Leary, Orla McDonald, Dr Siobhán O’Sullivan, Dr Claire Edwards, Dr Patricia Kennedy, Dr Fiachra Ó Súilleabháin, Professor Máire Leane, and Dr Noel O’Connell, with student representatives Edith Busteed and Vladimir Petrovic. The application was supported by Dr Avril Hutch, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at UCC, and Ann King, UCC Athena SWAN Project Officer.
“Congratulations and sincere thanks to the steering committee. Their dedication, insight, and teamwork have been central to this success, and the impact of their efforts will be felt across UCC and beyond,” Professor Stephen Graham said.