Athena SWAN

The School of Histories and Humanities has a strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, in line with Trinity’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025 (https://www.tcd.ie/strategy/). We have a proud tradition of teaching and researching the histories of gender and sexuality and of promoting equality and diversity across our curriculum. The School hosts the Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies, through which the School is proud to be involved in the SAGE project (Systematic Action for Gender Equality).

In March 2021, the School of Histories and Humanities was honoured to receive a Bronze Athena SWAN gender equality Award from Advance HE/Athena SWAN (School Application). Since then, we have established the School EDI Committee and appointed a Chair of EDI (currently shared by two Co-Chairs). We are applying to renew that Award in January 2025.

Athena SWAN was first established to encourage and recognise commitment to addressing gender equity in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM) employment in Higher Education. In 2015, it was expanded to recognise work undertaken in the arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law, in professional and support roles and for trans staff and students.

The Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) Charter is the internationally recognised quality mark for gender equality in universities/colleges.

The Charter was established in 2005 by the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) in the UK to encourage and recognise 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 scope of the Athena SWAN Charter was expanded to cover gender equality in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law disciplines, staff in professional and support roles, and for trans staff and students. The Charter, now run by Advance HE, now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, not just the barriers to progression that affect women.

The Charter was expanded to Ireland in 2014, managed by ECU and supported by the HEA. Accreditation under the Charter is made at bronze, silver, and gold levels. Trinity College Dublin has a Silver Medal at institutional level, awarded in 2023.

The application process involves the gathering of quantitative data broken down by gender, and the conduct of surveys of both staff and students; followed by the writing-up and devising of an Action Plan for gender equality.

More information here: https://www.tcd.ie/equality/athena-swan/

One the EDI’s many initiatives has been to compile a Handbook for New Staff in the School. We have also introduced a School Code of Conduct for meetings.

EDI Policies and Other Links