The RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery and School of Physiotherapy have successfully renewed their joint Bronze Athena Swan Award.

The submission was prepared by the self-assessment team which has members from both Schools, with support from the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit and Human Resources Department.

The Athena Swan Ireland Charter offers a framework for progressing gender equality in higher education and research that is unique to Ireland. It is run by Advance HE, which has worked in partnership with the sector for over ten years, supported by the Higher Education Authority.

The Bronze Renewal Athena Swan Award application was led by Athena Swan Champions Professor Declan Patton and Professor Frances Horgan, together with incoming Athena Swan Champions Dr Aglecia Budri and Professor Helen French.

The application demonstrated the significant progress made by the Schools in embedding equality, diversity and inclusion into their structures and processes. The assessment panel commended the Schools’ approach to supporting and recognising gender equality work, including both Heads of School co-chairing the self-assessment team.

The panel also highlighted the Schools’ SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) action plan, which will provide a clear framework for continuing progress in gender equality.

Sarah Fink, Head of Athena Swan Ireland, said: “This Bronze Renewal Athena Swan Award highlights the fantastic commitment of RCSI and its School of Nursing and Midwifery and School of Physiotherapy in bringing about change through impactful and sustainable gender equality initiatives in higher education across Ireland. Congratulations to all those who work so hard to achieve and sustain this recognition.”

Welcoming the award, Professor Tom O’Connor, Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, said: “I am proud that the School of Nursing and Midwifery and School of Physiotherapy have successful renewed our joint Bronze Athena Swan Award. We are delighted that the panel recognised the Schools’ commitment to embedding and sustaining EDI and gender equality initiatives. Many thanks to our self-assessment team whose collaborative effort resulted in this significant achievement for both Schools.”

Professor Suzanne McDonough, Head of the School of Physiotherapy, said: “The renewal of our joint Bronze Athena Swan Award is a great achievement for both Schools and recognises the substantial progress made on our action plan. This is a journey of continuous improvement, and our new action plan will advance this important equality work and this meaningful collaboration between the two Schools. Many thanks to all the members of our self-assessment team for their hard work on this application.”

The Athena Swan Charter was established in Ireland in 2015 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in higher education and research. In 2021, the Charter was updated to broaden its scope, supporting academic and professional units to deliver impactful and sustainable change in gender equality while also championing equality work across other equality grounds.

RCSI’s Institutional Bronze Athena Swan Award was renewed in 2023 under the new intersectional Charter. The renewal of the joint Bronze Award for the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery and Physiotherapy represents the next stage in their ongoing work to embed equality, diversity and inclusion and to deliver meaningful, sustainable change.