The Ìýcharter recognises work undertaken by higher education institutions to address gender equality through career progression, representation, and working environments, among other factors. The Charter is now used to address gender inequality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women.
The School of Economic, Social, and Political Sciences is home to a diverse range of core social science disciplines each of which tackle different challenges due to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). In the last five years, the School has experienced an increased visibility of the Athena Swan agenda and understanding and awareness of EDI issues. In 2023, our school successfully renewed its Bronze award, underscoring our community goal to promote gender equality and to identify and address challenges particular to the School.
For the next five years, we have set ambitious, but realistic and achievable goals. Our key priorities include continued work to increase the awareness of gender issues, reducing gender disparities in career progression, improving work conditions to support healthy work-life balance, increasing awareness among staff regarding the gendered challenges that students face, and reducing the gendered mental health and negative association gaps in our students.ÌýThese goals are in line with the University's Strategic Plan for EDI Our Strategic Plan – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion to create an inclusive community.
Our Athena Swan Committee is made up of a wide range of staff from across the school:
Chair
Academics
These colleagues bring specific expertise to the committee:
This event was organized by the Athena Swan Committee, in collaboration with the UK Women in Economics Network (UKWEN). The aim was to empower female students in economics by highlighting diverse career opportunities in the field.
The event featured distinguished speakers including Dr Sandra Batten (Bank of England), Alia Qamar (PwC), and Professor Jo Swaffield (ÃÛÌÒTV). They shared their journeys and provided invaluable insights into careers in the public sector, private sector, and academia. Their talks gave practical advice and addressed the unique challenges faced by women in economics. A question-and-answer session gave attendees the opportunity to talk directly with the speakers.
Event participants: Corrado Giulietti, Jo Swaffield, Valentina Tonei
This event is part of the School of Economic, Social, and Political Sciences' ongoing commitment to promoting gender equality among staff and students. View the school’s .
What is a narrative CV? How do you prepare one? Where can I get examples? Take a look at our tips from a workshop organised by Athena Swan: .
Event participants: Dr Avi Boukli, Dr Maria Evandrou, Dr Nikos Tzavidis
Our celebrates the achievements of distinguished female academics within our school. The series, featured on platforms like TikTok and our University website, aims to inspire and engage both our academic community and the broader public.
In our first inaugural interview, we speak to Dr Maria Villares-Varela, an Associate Professor in Sociology. Maria tells us about the people in her life who encouraged her to take opportunities in higher education to have more freedom and increase self-actualization.
Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
Visit theÌýAthena Swan at Southampton page to discover more about the University's approach and actions.
Read theÌýUniversity-wide policies on equality, diversity and inclusion.