We want your views as LJMU apply for Athena Swan Silver accreditation

Applying for Athena Swan Silver accreditation

LJMU is applying for Silver-level Athena Swan accreditation and we want to hear your views on working at LJMU.

LJMU achieved Bronze Athena Swan accreditation back in 2014, in recognition of the commitment and proactive work being done at the university to address issues relating to (intersectional) gender inequality, and maintaining an inclusive culture and environment.

We now want to hear your views on working at LJMU, to measure our current position and guide future work. The Athena Swan Staff Culture Survey is an opportunity for you to get involved and have your voice heard (anonymously) about what else we can do as a university to eradicate gender inequality at LJMU. The survey will take ten minutes to complete and will remain open until midnight on Thursday 27 April 2023.

The Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (SAT) will provide regular progress updates on the gender equality work that is being undertaken, and use your feedback to inform future action planning, the next opportunity to input will be through Staff Focus Groups planned for April and May, full details of which will be provided in the coming weeks. 

What is Athena Swan?

The Advanced HE Athena Swan Charter is a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research.

Having successfully renewed the institutional award twice since 2014, teams across the university have also been inspired to apply, with five areas earning bronze awards and several more applications now underway at Bronze and Silver-level. Having evaluated the positive impact on LJMU to date, the Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (SAT) will apply for the institution to progress to Silver-level. If successful, this will act as a milestone in recognition of the university’s achievements to date and hopefully boost interest in and momentum of work in this area. 

PVC Student Experience and Chair of the Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (SAT), Phil Vickerman, and Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Moni Akinsanya, said: 

 “Displaying our awards is evidence of our proud commitment to the principles of gender equality and portrays LJMU as an inclusive, progressive workplace. 

“However, the hard work done to maintain our accreditation is not done to earn a badge, it is to support a continued and active dedication to making positive change in LJMU, through the implementation of our Athena Swan action plan, a living document used to record future actions and monitor the progress on and impact of completed tasks.

“From gaining staff’s genuine feedback on gender equality and what it’s like to work at LJMU, we can use this information as we strive towards Athena Swan Silver accreditation.”  

Staff can fill out the LJMU Athena Swan Staff Culture Survey 2023 here and have until midnight on Thursday 27 April to take part. 

Should you have any queries about Athena Swan please email our dedicated mailbox: SilverAthenaSwanApp@ljmu.ac.uk