DPR News
Double Athena Swan Success for UCC
University College Cork (UCC) is celebrating a double success in the latest round of Athena Swan awards, with the School of Applied Social Studies receiving its first Bronze Award, led by Dr Caitriona Ni Laoire, and the Dental School and Hospital, led by Dr Elizabeth Ann Ryan, securing a renewal of its Bronze Award.
The Athena Swan Charter is a global framework that recognises commitment to gender equality and inclusion in higher education and research. Awards recognise Schools’ commitment to advance equality for staff and students.
Professor Stephen Byrne, Deputy President and Registrar and Chair of the University Leadership Team’s Athena Swan Working Group, praised the achievement:
“This is an important milestone for both the School of Applied Social Studies and the Dental School & Hospital. These awards reflect the dedication of our colleagues to creating workplaces and learning environments where all can thrive.” First bronze for Social Studies
For the School of Applied Social Studies, this is a landmark moment as the School’s first Athena Swan award recognising the School’s sustained commitment to diversity and inclusion. Application assessors commended the School generally for its “transparent reflection [on] the challenges in addressing gender stereotypes in social sciences,” and specifically for supporting a teaching buy-out for the SAT convenor to support the Athena Swan self-assessment.
Professor Eleanor Bantry White, Head of School, said:
“We are very proud to have achieved this recognition. It represents the commitment of staff to addressing challenges openly and working towards lasting change. The award not only celebrates our commitment to equality as a core value of our School but also sets a clear roadmap for the years ahead.”
Bronze renewal for Dentistry
The Dental School and Hospital has renewed its Bronze Award, reflecting steady progress since first being recognised. In earning its renewal, the School was commended for significant improvements in the representation of women in senior positions in the School, a School management restructure that strengthened research capacity, and for the School’s commitment to career development for professional services staff. Panel assessors particularly commended a new policy on religious observance, introduced by the EDI Committee, in recognition of the diversity of religious expression among School students.
Mr Paul Brady, Dean of the Dental School and Hospital, said:
“Renewing our Bronze Award is a strong endorsement of our progress and ambition. This recognition belongs to our staff and students, whose commitment ensures equality and inclusion remain central to the School’s identity.”
UCC’s Equality Leadership
UCC has a long track record in advancing equality in higher education. The university achieved its first institutional Bronze in 2016 and its first Silver award in 2024, alongside a growing number of departmental awards. These two latest successes bring UCC’s total to 18 awards.
Dr Avril Hutch, UCC’s Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, noted:
“Athena Swan awards are both an endorsement and a challenge. They mark progress while calling us to go further. These successes underline UCC’s commitment to building a diverse, fair and inclusive university for staff, students, and the wider community.”