Athena Swan Charter in Ireland

The Athena Swan charter is a framework that is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality in higher education and research. The charter launched in Ireland in 2015 with a specific remit to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment. The charter has since been expanded to include arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL) and staff working in professional, managerial and support roles (PMSS). The framework also now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, including consideration of the experience of trans staff and students, as well as the underrepresentation of men in particular disciplines. The Athena Swan Bronze, Silver and Gold awards testify to institutions’ and departments’ success in advancing these goals.

The Athena Swan Ireland charter was re-developed in 2021 in line with the findings of a national consultation and offers a framework for progressing equality in higher education and research that is unique to Ireland. The objective of the Athena Swan Ireland 2021 charter framework is to support higher education institutions, academic departments, and professional units in impactful and sustainable gender equality work and to build capacity for evidence-based equality work across equality grounds and initiatives.

Engagement with the charter is a key pillar of Ireland’s national strategy for gender equality in higher education and institutional access to the charter is nationally funded by the HEA.

In addition to the HEA’s statutory responsibility to promote the attainment of equality of opportunity in higher education, the Report of the Expert Group: HEA National Review of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education Institutions  (June 2016), the Department of Education and Skills’ (DES) Gender Action Plan 2018-2020 and the  Report of the Expert Group: 2nd HEA National Review of Gender Equality in Irish Higher Education Institutions (2022) include explicit recommendations and actions for HEIs in relation to the attainment of Athena Swan certification and eligibility for research funding. The Report of the DES Gender Equality Taskforce revisited the 2016 National Review, endorsing many of its recommendations and expanding on some where appropriate. In response to these recommended actions, the HEA issued a Statement on the Athena Swan Charter in Ireland  (July 2019) revising the requirements for Athena Swan certification and eligibility for research funding.

From 2022 onwards, the European Commission requires that applying public bodies, research organisations and higher education institutions, from EU Member States and associated countries, have a Gender Equality Plan or equivalent strategy in place to be eligible for funding.

Gender Equality Plans developed via the Athena Swan charter framework assist Irish higher education institutions in meeting the European Commission’s requirements. Athena Swan Ireland has published a briefing on aligning Athena Swan Ireland Action Plans to Horizon Europe Gender Equality Plans requirements.

In 2022, the European Commission introduced the EU Gender Equality Champion Awards to complement and boost the Gender Equality Plan requirement for higher education and research organisations applying to Horizon Europe. Six Irish higher education institutions have achieved these awards to date.

Athena Swan Ireland award holders

A list of current Athena Swan Ireland award holders can be found here.

Applications for Athena Swan Ireland awards are assessed by a peer review panel. Panellists must study, work or have recently worked in the Irish higher education or research sector.

Athena Swan Ireland case studies

Case studies from Irish higher education institutions have been published on the Athena Swan Ireland website. These case studies aim to celebrate the breadth of gender equality initiatives taking place across the Irish higher education sector.

Athena Swan Ireland National Committee

The development of the Athena Swan charter in Ireland is supported by the National Committee. The committee is comprised of representatives from eligible higher education institutions, Advance HE, and the HEA. Irish research funding agencies, as well as other stakeholders, including the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and the Technological Universities Association (TUA) are also represented.