Invitation to join University team working on gender equality

Monday, 10 September 2018

The University will be preparing its next Athena SWAN submission over the next 14 months, assessing where we are in our work on gender equality and preparing a new action plan, with submission due in November 2019.

Reflecting changes in Athena SWAN since our last submission in April 2016, and that we plan to submit at Silver level, our new self-assessment will focus equally across our academic, research, professional and support staff and, in addition to its major focus on issues of gender equality, will also address how we support our trans staff.

We are inviting staff now to put themselves forward to be part of the self-assessment team that will meet monthly through to November 2019 to prepare the substantial self-assessment document and the associated action plan.

 “This is a huge opportunity to be part of shaping a major part of the University’s equality, diversity and inclusion work, as the action plan developed over the next 14 months will be the major plan the University will work to in addressing gender inequalities in the four years from November next year,” said Simon Chandler-Wilde, Dean for Diversity and Inclusion. “In setting up this SAT we are after a gender-balanced cross-section of staff, representative of the variety of staff roles and activities we have across the University, and also representative of a variety of career stages and levels in the organisation, and of a variety of experiences of work-life balance arrangements and caring responsibilities.”

To express an interest in being part of this team, please send an email to diversity@reading.ac.uk by Friday 21 September, indicating your current role in the organisation and career stage and what you would bring to the SAT in terms of experience, interests and skills.

For details about the Athena SWAN Charter and application process can be found on the ECU website, including the pro forma that we will use in preparing the application. Our current action plan and last Athena SWAN submission are available on our diversity and inclusion web pages.