ECU Gender Equality
Charter Mark (GEM)
Sandra Beaufoy
WHAT IS GEM?
• Gender Equality Charter Mark
• Similar to Athena SWAN, but for Arts,
Humanities and Social Science
• Institutional and departmental level of
award
• Submission at Bronze, Silver and Gold
level
• Submission includes an Action Plan
WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF
GEM?
• GEM aims to address gender
inequalities and imbalance in the arts,
humanities and social sciences, in
particular the underrepresentation of
women in senior roles.
• GEM covers academic staff,
professional and support staff, men,
women and gender identity.
WILL GEM REPLACE ATHENA
SWAN?
• GEM utilises the experience and
methodology of Athena SWAN.
• The Equality Challenge Unit manages
both Athena and GEM.
• The Athena SWAN Charter will continue
to operate as it currently stands, with a
view to bringing the Charter Marks
together in the future.
PRINCIPLES OF GEM
• To address gender inequalities,
commitment and action at all levels
• The absence of diversity in management
and at policy-making levels
• That employment policies, practices and
procedures actively promote gender
equality
• Broad range of work activity is recognised
in career progression/promotion
PRINCIPLES OF GEM - Cont
• Personal and structural obstacles to
making the transition from u/g level to
PhD and then into senior academic
roles
• To tackle unequal representation of
women or men requires changing
cultures and attitudes
• The system of short-term contracts
GEM TRIAL
• The ECU piloted a trial of GEM which
culminated with submissions in April
2014.
• Warwick Business School (WBS)
registered interest in the trial.
• 10 Institutions and 28 departments took
part in the trial.
• WBS - submitted an application for a
Bronze award.
FORMAL LAUNCH OF GEM
• GEM will be launched in November
2014
• It is not yet known what the final
submission form will look like and when
the first submission round will be
(possibly April or November 2015)
• Data templates
SELF ASSESSMENT TEAM
• Diverse membership – key personnel,
such as u/g and p/g admissions tutors,
outreach officer, academics, HR and
admin staff
• Academics at different career stages
• New staff
• Staff who work part time, flexible
working patterns, have had career
breaks
WHY SHOULD MY DEPARTMENT
PARTICIPATE IN GEM?
• To improve awareness of gender
equality and to tackle gender issues
• To have the opportunity to scrutinise
current procedures and processes
• To improve communication across the
department
• Reputation
• To give a voice to staff, who may not
otherwise be heard
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
ECU Website:
http://www.ecu.ac.uk/our-projects/gender-charter-mark
Trial award materials:
http://www.ecu.ac.uk/our-projects/gender-equality-charter-marks-trialawards-materials
Warwick Contact:
Sandra Beaufoy on 74479 s.beaufoy@warwick.ac.uk
Claire Martin on 22356 c.martin@wawrick.ac.uk
ANY QUESTIONS?
Oliver Cooper, WBS Administrative Officer (Academic Services)
Jen Henderson, WBS HR Officer
Warwick Business School
Top 5 Benefits for Applying for GEM
1.
High profile institutionally and nationally
2.
Uncovers unknown best practice and areas of concern
3.
Positive impact and raised awareness
4.
Sharing best practice with other departments
5.
Equality and Welfare Committee
Warwick Business School
Top 5 Challenges Faced
1.
Resource heavy
2.
Retrieving data
3.
Recording data
4.
Spread ownership of Action Plan
5.
Communication and participation
Warwick Business School
Top 5 Tips
1.
Head of Department to Chair meetings
2.
Record data available in house and keep a tracker so
you can chase data requested
3.
Choose carefully the membership of the SelfAssessment Team
4.
Assign colleagues to draft answers to specific questions
5.
Attend Athena Network or equivalent and share best
practice
Warwick Business School
5 Quick Wins
1.
Unconscious Bias Training for Senior Staff
2.
Online training modules for all staff strongly
encouraged
3.
Conduct UKRC Survey to assess perceptions. This could
be conducted again prior to submission
4.
Attend Athena Network or equivalent
5.
Review committee membership and timings
Warwick Business School