What is Athena Swan?

    ​The Athena Swan charter is a framework that is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality in higher education and research. The charter launched in Ireland in 2015 with a specific remit to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment. The charter has since been expanded to include arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL) and staff working in professional, managerial and support roles (PMSS). The charter framework expanded to recognise work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, including the underrepresentation of men where appropriate, and not just barriers to progression that affect women. Intersectionality is a key principle of the expanded charter, in particular the intersection of gender and ethnicity.

    A new charter unique to Ireland was introduced in 2021 which aims to support higher education institutions in impactful and sustainable gender equality work. The new Ireland charter also supports higher education institutions to build capacity for evidence-based equality work across the equality grounds enshrined in Irish legislation. To find out more information about Athena Swan in Ireland visit the Advance HE website.

    Report on reviews of Athena Swan

    A brief report on reviews of Athena Swan is available on Maynooth University Research Archive Library (MURAL)

     

    What Athena Swan award does Maynooth University hold?

    Maynooth University renewed it's Bronze Institution Award in 2022. 

     

    Which Maynooth University Departments/Faculties have an Athena Swan Award?