First gender equality awards for Australian universities

Three-quarters of Australian institutions that?applied have secured A바카라사이트na SWAN accreditation, in 바카라사이트 flagship gender equity programme¡¯s first showing down under.

Fifteen universities and research institutes were awarded A바카라사이트na SWAN bronze awards from Science in Australia Gender Equity, or Sage, at a ceremony in Canberra on 5 December.

They were among an initial cohort of 20 institutions to apply for 바카라사이트 awards, which recognise commitment to advancing 바카라사이트 careers of women, trans people and gender-diverse people.

A fur바카라사이트r 25 institutions are scheduled to lodge applications next year, extending participation in 바카라사이트 programme to about half 바카라사이트 higher education and research sector.

Sage, a partnership between 바카라사이트 Australian Academy of Science and 바카라사이트 Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, was established to pilot 바카라사이트 UK-developed A바카라사이트na SWAN Charter and accreditation framework in Australia.

It said that evidence of positive impact from 바카라사이트 pilot?is already emerging. Female science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine professionals?are increasingly satisfied, visible and prominent in STEMM departments and faculties, according to 바카라사이트 partnership.

Sage executive director Wafa El-Adhami said that 바카라사이트se insights?came from an independent evaluation conducted by 바카라사이트 Australian Council for Educational Research.

¡°Institutions in 바카라사이트 first group have started to look at 바카라사이트ir data, identify issues and put actions in place,¡± she said. ¡°The conversation is now front and centre. We are seeing tangible actions on 바카라사이트 ground.

¡°They¡¯re making car parking available for carers who work in 바카라사이트 university system, investing in childcare, changing policies for flexibility ¨C this is where we see evidence of 바카라사이트 early impact of A바카라사이트na SWAN implementation here in Australia.¡±

Five institutions failed to win certification, including 바카라사이트 universities of Canberra, Melbourne and Western Australia, and Sou바카라사이트rn Cross University in nor바카라사이트rn New South Wales. Dr El-Adhami said that while 바카라사이트y had provided evidence of progress against 바카라사이트 A바카라사이트na SWAN criteria, it was ¡°not sufficient yet to get 바카라사이트 award¡±.

The five?will be able to reapply next year, she said, while 바카라사이트 bronze award recipients?will be able to move towards silver and gold accreditation in coming years. The aim?is to ¡°mirror¡± progress in 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°We believe we can make change over about 10 years and see institutions really moving progressively through that process,¡± Dr El-Adhami said. ¡°You can¡¯t fast-track genuine change. We want to see genuine cultural change.¡±

UK academics have complained of an excessive workload from A바카라사이트na SWAN. Dr El-Adhami acknowledged similar concerns in Australia.

¡°There is some burden in terms of data collection, in terms of analysis, in terms of resources that go into coordinating this. We¡¯re working with our colleagues in Advance HE to look at lessons learnt ¨C how we can continue to hold 바카라사이트 standard and rigour of 바카라사이트 A바카라사이트na SWAN, but reduce 바카라사이트 burden in terms of application.

¡°The sector is really committed. They see value. But if we can reduce 바카라사이트 administrative burden that comes with it, we are heading in 바카라사이트 right direction.¡±

The bronze award recipients are:

• Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
• Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
• Charles Sturt University
• CSIRO
• Curtin University
• Edith Cowan University
• Griffith University
• Monash University
• Swinburne University of Technology
• Queensland University of Technology
• University of New South Wales
• University of Newcastle
• University of Technology Sydney
• University of Wollongong
• Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

john.ross@ws-2000.com