Athena Swan
The University holds an Athena Swan Institutional Bronze award alongside School level awards for all of our STEMM Schools. Our aim is for all Schools to hold an Athena Swan award by 2025.
The Athena Swan Charter was established in 2005 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. Since 2015 the charter also recognises work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL) disciplines, and covers professional and support roles, and support for trans staff and students.
On 30 June 2021 Advance HE relaunched the Athena Swan Charter with changes to the principles of the Charter and the processes for applying for an award and for enewing existing awards. Detailed guidance on how to apply can be found on the
Athena Swan at the AVÊÓƵ
The AVÊÓƵ holds a Bronze University award, which is valid until 2026.
Institutional Athena Swan Application 2020 [PDF 2.74MB] (Please note, as per this version is redacted so some photos and other personal information have been removed.)
Our institutional action plan covers all gender equality actions in a single place, including our gender pay gap action plan.
Our Gender Equality Steering Group is chaired by .
The University has a full-time Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Consultant within the EDI Unit who supports the work of the Gender Equality Steering Group.
In addition to the University’s institutional Bronze award, the following Schools have achieved department level awards:
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School (Gold, April 2024)
- School of Education and Social Work (Bronze, April 2024)
- School of Life Sciences (Silver, renewed April 2019)
- School of Psychology (Silver, November 2020)
- School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences (Bronze, November 2023)
- School of Engineering and Informatics (Bronze, renewed September 2024)
- Business School (Bronze, September 2024)