ECYS receives internationally recognised award for gender-equality work

The WELS School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport (ECYS) has been recognised with an Athena Swan Departmental Bronze Award for its work to promote gender equality.

The award, presented by Advance HE, acknowledges higher-education institutions that show continued commitment to supporting and transforming gender equality. This includes adhering to the Athena Swan charter principles, such as tackling the gender pay gap, addressing the absence of women from senior academic, professional and support roles, as well as tackling the discriminatory treatment often experienced by trans people.

Institutions must formally apply to be considered for the award, with the ECYS self-assessment team submitting their application in January 2022. The team was successful on its first attempt, making ECYS the first School in WELS to receive the accolade.

Dr Caroline Heaney – Programme Leader Sport and Fitness, and ECYS Athena Swan Lead – said of the news:

“We are thrilled to receive our Bronze Award and have all of the hard work of the self-assessment team rewarded.

“Collating our submission has been extremely eye-opening and we now look forward to implementing the action plan and further improving gender equality within ECYS.”

Dr Eric Addae-Kyeremeh, Head of School for ECYS, shared Caroline’s sentiment:

“I’m very pleased with our award which demonstrates our commitment to the principles of the Athena Swan charter. I look forward to working with colleagues in ECYS to promote equity and gender equality within higher education.”

Finally, Professor Tim Blackman, The Open University’s Vice-Chancellor, said he was “delighted” at ECYS’s achievement, adding that equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are “a strategic priority for the OU”.

Learn more about OU-wide Athena Swan awards on OU News.