Good Practice Award for Mathematical Sciences

HoDoMS Annual Conference 2009

Good Practice Award

• Over 40% of undergraduates in Mathematical Sciences are female.

• Only 4% of professors in Mathematical Sciences are female.

• Similar picture in other STEM areas in the UK.

Proportion of women

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

UG PG L SL Prof

non-STEM

All STEM

Maths Sciences

2006/07 figures from UKRC (originally from HESA).Note: Figures for non-STEM UG/PG are approximate.

Good Practice Award

A number of schemes to improve the culture in science departments exist:

• IoP Project Juno

• RSC scheme

• Athena SWAN Charter

Good Practice Award

• LMS WiM Committee/HoDoMS joint initiative

• Learning from experience of IoP/RSC/Athena

• Equivalence with Athena SWAN

• Steering Committee: Dr Cathy Hobbs (Chair), Prof Peter Clarkson, Prof Jeremy Levesley, Prof Andy Osbaldestin, Dr Gwyneth Stallard.

Five principles of good practice:

1. A framework to deliver equality of opportunity and reward.

2. Appointment, promotion and selection processes that encourage all.

3. Support and encouragement of career progression.

4. A culture that is open, inclusive and transparent.

5. Flexible approaches for a working life.

Benefits to becoming GPA supporter/champion

• Department shows it has a working culture in which all can achieve their full potential.

• Recruitment and retention of staff (and students).

• Engaging all in process.

• Institutional steer - equivalence with Athena SWAN.

GPA: Procedure

• Initially Department becomes a supporter (letter to indicate this).

• Department assesses own position against the 5 principles – must have senior support and engage with department.

• RSC checklist a useful starting point.

• Department writes a report and action plan.

GPA Procedure

• Report and action plan submitted – also nominate a panel member.

• Panel assigned from pool to visit Department – small cost to cover travel expenses etc paid by Department.

• Panel uses report, action plan and evidence from visit to determine champion status.

• Department expected to keep status up to date.