Would you like to be involved with the transformed UK Athena Swan Charter?

14 Jan 2022

Advance HE is now inviting expressions of interest in Chair and Reviewer roles for the transformed UK Athena Swan Charter

Panel members will be appointed for a term of three years and will join existing Athena Swan panel members who were appointed last year. 

Why become a panel member?

Our University has been a participant in the Athena Swan Charters for many years. Participating in Athena Swan panels offers invaluable insight into the assessment process. You will come away with a more detailed understanding of how panels work and insight into how other institutions analyse their data and make progress on their action plan. Reading through multiple applications will also provide you with good practice ideas which could be implemented here at Manchester. Becoming a panel member also gives you an opportunity to share your equality and diversity knowledge with peers from other institutions. to build your professional networks and knowledge of equality and diversity. 

Who should apply? 

We invite expressions of interest from a broad selection of colleagues across the higher education and research sector, including: 

• Colleagues based at higher education institutions and research institutes of all sizes and focus areas. 
• Colleagues from all academic backgrounds. 
• Professional, technical and operational (PTO) staff, including those based within academic departments and those based in central directorates. 
• Colleagues of all genders. 

We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as male, and those with expertise in Research Institutes or Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business and Law subjects as these groups are under-represented amongst our existing panel members. 

How to apply 

• Role descriptions for Panel Chairs and Reviewers along with person specifications can be read in the Terms of Reference for UK Athena Swan review panels and information about the roles of Chair or Reviewer and the application process
• Please complete the expression of interest form before the closing date of 1 February 2022, 12noon (GMT)
• Shortlisted candidates for Chair roles will be invited to interview by AdvanceHE between 9 February and 11 February 2022. 

There are no interviews for reviewer candidates, but successful applicants will be contacted and invited to participate in one day of training during the weeks commencing 14 February, 21 February or 21 March 2022.  Panel members will be required to successfully complete training before participating in an Athena Swan panel. Panel members will also be invited to observe panels taking place in the weeks commencing 7 and 14 March. 

• If you would like further information please contact Athena.Swan@advance-he.ac.uk or our Academic Lead for Gender and Sexual Orientation, Rachel Cowen, who is a national Athena Swan Panel Chair.