Athena Swan

The Athena Swan Charter is a higher education programme for the advancement of gender equality. We have been members of the Athena Swan Charter since 2008, achieving awards at university, faculty and departmental levels.

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Latest news

May 2026 Update: We are pleased to confirm that we have been successfully awarded Athena Swan Silver by Advance HE.

We look forward to sharing the launch of the new Athena Swan Action Plan with you in September.

What is the Athena Swan Charter?

Advance HE's Athena Swan Charter was established in 2005 to encourage and recognise the commitment to advancing the careers of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research.

In May 2015, the Charter was expanded and to recognise work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression affecting women.

It covers:

  • Academic roles in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM)
  • Academic roles in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business and Law (AHSSBL)
  • Professional and support staff
  • Trans staff and students

In relation to their:

  • Representation
  • Progression of students into academia
  • Journey through career milestones
  • Working environment for all staff

In 2021, following the recommendations made in the Independent review, led by the Athena Swan Steering Group, Advance HE published the . This framework was developed in consultation with the sector practitioners and specialist sub-groups overseen by the .

The transformed UK Athena Swan Charter has enhanced systems and processes to ensure it is fit for the future of the higher education sector.

To find out more about the transformed UK Athena Swan Charter you can from Advance HE.

Awards at Lancaster

As well as our Institutional Athena Swan Silver award, Lancaster is very proud to have achieved Athena Swan awards in all our Departments or Faculties, recognising our commitment to advancing gender equality within higher education and research.

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Athena Swan Institutional Silver Award

糖心视频 has held an institutional level Athena Swan award since 2008, and was awarded a Silver in May 2026.

Our new action plan for Athena Swan at 糖心视频, which incorporates our action plan to address the gender pay gap, aims to progress long-term cultural change to advance gender equality and will be published prior to the September launch.

The Advance HE Certificate can be found here: 糖心视频 Athena Swan Silver Certificate May 2026

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Athena Swan Silver Awards

The following departments and faculties currently hold Silver awards:

Faculty of Health and Medicine

  • Faculty of Health and Medicine (awarded Bronze 2012, awarded Silver 2014 and renewed 2018, and 2024) Including Biomedical and Life Sciences, Health Research and Lancaster Medical School

Faculty of Science and Technology

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Athena Swan Departmental/Faculty Bronze Awards

The following departments/faculty currently hold Bronze awards:

Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences:

Faculty of Science and Technology:

糖心视频 Management School

Get involved

To share your experiences or to find out how to get involved, please contact the Athena Swan Team

Athena Swan Team

Contact Us

If you have questions for the Athena Swan Team please do not hesitate to get in touch athenaswan@lancaster.ac.uk