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27th May, 2021

Middlesex recognised with Bronze Athena Swan Award

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Middlesex University has been awarded a Bronze Award by the Athena Swan Charter. Athena Swan is a framework that was first established in 2005 to focus on dismantling barriers to progression that affect women across STEM subjects and today is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within all areas of higher education (HE) and research.

“The Award is a demonstrable expression of Middlesex’s care and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and helps us with a tangible roadmap of how to continue to do better, and be better, for our whole community and beyond.” Geraldine Proudler, Chair of Middlesex Board of Commitment

The Athena Swan team undertook a rigorous self-assessment of data, both qualitative and quantitative, to assess MDX’s gender equality across its staff community. From this insight, the team developed a set of short, medium and longer term actions to help further drive forward gender equality and representation across the University, including gender non-conforming individuals. These actions include:

  • Reviewing the promotion and progression process
  • Further embedding the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion in new staff induc­tions and at local level across teams
  • Enhancing knowledge of the University’s parental leave policies and developing a more robust support mechanism for staff needing to access it
  • Embracing and embedding more engaging and affirmative communications in our ap­proaches to recruitment to encourage applications from underrepresented groups.

The Award is held in high esteem across the sector and recognises that the University has a solid foundation for eliminating gender bias and developing an inclusive culture that values all staff.

Geraldine Proudler, Chair of the Board of Governors, says:

“This Award is a demonstrable expression of Middlesex’s care and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and helps us with a tangible roadmap of how to continue to do better, and be better, for our whole community and beyond. Thank you to all who have been part of this important work.”

The award signals just the beginning of the work needed in order to develop an even more inclusive culture and foster even greater shared values, respect and opportunities. In line with our new strategy, EDI will remain a central focus and we will continue to make meaningful changes to embed the spirit of the award across our community, including our work towards the Race Equality Charter and improving our Stonewall Workplace Equality Index rankings.

So many people and parts of the University have been involved in shaping this work to date. We would like to express our huge thanks to everyone who has contributed so far, with spe­cial thanks to Professor Sarah Bradshaw, Interim Academic Dean of the Faculty of Business and  Law, John Soper, Staff Equality and Inclusion Lead, and Michael Yates, PMO Project Manager, for driving all of this work so well and with such focus.


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