Driving equity and diversity across the University
Driving equity and diversity across the University
UniSA is deeply committed to developing a workforce that is diverse and in which talented people thrive. We continually seek ideas and learning from other creative organisations that we can build on to attract and develop highly motivated and creative people who together foster a culture of enterprise.
We've committed to improving the diversity of our people right across our University, encompassing all disciplines and teams. We've chosen to actively participate in the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Pilot of Athena SWAN to create the momentum and drive the change. The pilot aims to apply the Athena SWAN Charter, a successful evaluation and accreditation framework from the United Kingdom, to promote gender equity and diversity in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) in Australia.
Whilst SAGE has primarily focussed on the STEMM disciplines, at UniSA we are taking a whole of University approach, reflecting our enterprise mindset and our commitment to developing the diversity of all our people.
UniSA was awarded Bronze Accreditation in September 2019.
This is a significant achievement for the University and an outward demonstration of our commitment to growing a diverse workforce and creating an environment in which talent thrives and difference is valued. It is also an important step toward achieving our E25 ambition of being a high performing, culturally enterprising organisation and attaining University wide Gold Accreditation.
The Athena SWAN Charter is an accreditation program developed in the United Kingdom to address gender inequity within science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM). It evolved in 1999 from the Athena Project, a small network of distinguished women in science who worked to advance the representation of women in STEMM, and who supported the Scientific Women’s Academy Network (SWAN) to create a charter to promote women into leadership roles within STEMM.
The Charter recognises excellence in policies and practices that support gender equity in STEMM through its tiered award model: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Institutions join the Charter by agreeing to 10 Principles and endeavouring on a program of activities to analyse the organisation and design strategies for enhancing equity and diversity.
The Australian Academy of Science, in partnership with the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), have established the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) initiative and are piloting the Athena SWAN Charter in Australia.
The pilot currently involves 40 institutions, who will apply for Athena SWAN Bronze awards in 2018 and 2019.
Whilst SAGE has primarily focussed on the STEMM disciplines, at UniSA we are taking a whole of University approach, reflecting our enterprise mindset and our commitment to developing the diversity of all our people.
As such, this project is co-sponsored by:
The SAGE Steering Group (SAGE SG) was the key decision making committee for UniSA's SAGE Athena SWAN Bronze Accreditation application.
The SAGE SG:
The establishment of a “Self-Assessment Team” is a requirement of the SAGE Pilot. It acts as a working group or steering committee responsible for:
This project is managed within the Office of Strategic Programs. Feel free to contact one of our team.
Caroline Batty: Senior Project Manager
Sarah Hart: Project Officer