The School of Law and Criminology is delighted to announce that it has been successful in its application for renewal of its Athena Swan Bronze Award. The School previously earned the Bronze Award in 2020, one of the first two law/law and criminology schools in Ireland to do so.
This award signals external recognition of the important ongoing and sustained gender equity work being undertaken in the School. Athena Swan Ireland said “There is evidence of a strong commitment to gender equality and the School is very active in EDI research, which underpins the School’s activities.” The School’s award is now renewed until 2029, though in a sign of our commitment to pursuing gender equity, we plan to submit an application for a Silver Award in 2027.
The School’s submission builds on the work done by academic and professional services colleagues since the School’s inception in 2009. A clear focus on social justice, including EDI matters, is at the heart of research carried out in the School, and EDI work is embedded across the law and criminology curricula at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The renewal process involved investigating and reflecting on the School’s progress in relation to previously identified priority actions. We identified the opportunities and challenges of pursuing gender equity given the unprecedented growth of the School in terms of staff and student numbers and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. We recognise that while the School has made considerable progress in the area of gender equity, there are important areas that require more attention.
The School’s Action Plan identifies targeted activities and success measures for the School over the next five years. It was developed following extensive consultation with staff and students through culture surveys and focus groups, alongside other data sources. The Action Plan focusses on five key themes:
- Organisation and Culture
- Career Development and Progression
- Work-Life Balance
- Anti-Bullying/Harassment and Discrimination
- Athena Swan Assessment and Processes
In its feedback the ASI stated “[T]he Panel agrees that the action plan is broadly SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) and addresses the key priority areas.”
In their reflections on the process Dr Sinéad Ring and Dr. John Morrison, co-chairs of the School of Law and Criminology’s Self-Assessment Team, stated that:
“Working on our AS Bronze Renewal application allowed the Self-Assessment Team to really engage with academic and professional services colleagues on the important work of fostering a culture of gender equity amongst our staff and students. It offered the School opportunities to reflect on our progress since our original Bronze Award and to develop concrete actions to deepen our collective commitment to gender equity and wider EDI work.”
In welcoming the award, Dr Fergus Ryan, Cinnire Scoile/Head of the School of Law and Criminology said:
“I am delighted that the School’s Athena Swan renewal application has been successful. The Award signals the School’s ongoing and pro-active commitment to gender equity and diversity, and to valuing and supporting all our colleagues and students. The Report identified many positive steps and achievements to date. The Action Plan offers us a firm pathway to addressing the remaining challenges identified in the Report, and the opportunity to take clear steps to enhance gender equity in the School. I am particularly grateful to and proud of the SAT team, led by co-chairs Dr Sinéad Ring and Dr. John Morrison and to all our colleagues in the School and in the EDI Office for their superb support.”
Dr Gemma Irvine, Vice President for Equality & Diversity, said: “Many congratulations to the School of Law and Criminology on the renewal of their Athena Swan Bronze Award, which is international peer-reviewed recognition of their dedication and commitment to identifying and implementing targeted actions to improve and advance gender equality in their School. I look forward to continuing to work with them on their Action Plan and supporting them in their future ambition for Silver. "
About 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. By being part of Athena Swan, institutions and departments are committing to a progressive charter; adopting these principles within their policies, practices, action plans and culture.
The Athena Swan Charter was launched in Ireland in 2015 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) in higher education and research. The charter has since been expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSBBL), and staff working in professional, managerial and support roles. The charter framework also recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, including consideration of the experience of trans staff and students, as well as the underrepresentation of men in particular disciplines.
The Athena Swan Ireland Charter is unique to Ireland but aligns broadly with the global charter principles. Introduced in October 2021, it has further adapted the previous expanded charter framework to the Irish HEI context and takes a comprehensive multi-level approach to organisation structural/cultural change across the equality grounds enshrined in Irish legislation. This includes national drivers and links to core grant and research funding, and European Commission requirements for Horizon Europe.
In 2018, Maynooth University was the first Higher Education Institution in Ireland to achieve an Athena Swan Bronze Institution Award under the expanded charter, in recognition of its commitment to progressing gender and intersectional equality for staff and students. The University renewed its Bronze Award in 2022, under the new Charter framework. Sixteen Maynooth University Departments/Schools have now achieved Athena Swan Bronze: in addition to the six departments and two schools in the Faculty of Arts, Celtic Studies & Philosophy, the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Experimental Physics, Geography, Maths & Statistics, Psychology, the School of Law & Criminology, and the School of Business each hold Bronze Awards.
For further information:
Equality Projects Officer, Maynooth University, [email protected]
