Athena SWAN Working Group 3 (School of Nursing and Midwifery) (Event)

Description

As Chairperson of Athena SWAN Working Group 3 at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, I led a dedicated team focused on implementing crucial elements of the 2016-2020 Athena SWAN Action Plan. During my year-long tenure as chair, I coordinated multiple initiatives designed to enhance gender equality across educational programs and outreach activities.

Under my leadership, the working group advanced student mentoring programs and established a summer studentship scheme to promote research engagement among undergraduates. I oversaw the development and implementation of comprehensive student surveys to assess gender-related experiences and barriers, while also transforming the High Achievers Event into "Breaking Boundaries: Advancing Your Career Through Continued Professional Development" to attract diverse participation.

My working group directed innovative initiatives including the establishment of joint PhD opportunities between the School and Health and Social Care Trusts, and the development of a shadowing program allowing students to experience leadership roles with senior healthcare managers. My team also implemented strategies to increase postgraduate registration levels among healthcare professionals, with particular attention to addressing gender imbalances in career progression.

A significant achievement during my chairpersonship was the successful inauguration of the Jean Orr Lecture series, featuring prominent nursing and midwifery leaders as role models for students. Through focused group discussions with postgraduate taught students, we identified specific barriers to female advancement in the profession and developed targeted interventions.
The working group made substantial progress in addressing gender recruitment imbalances through multiple approaches: researching the impact of Multiple Mini Interviews on gender diversity, anonymizing personal statements in the admissions process, implementing unconscious bias training, and organizing innovative outreach activities. These included TED-style talks on "Men in Nursing & Midwifery," targeted engagement with careers teachers, and the development of the "Nurses/Midwives in Schools" program to enhance the profession's profile among diverse student populations.

By coordinating these varied initiatives, I ensured the working group maintained momentum in advancing gender equality within nursing and midwifery education and practice, contributing significantly to the School's overall Athena SWAN objectives.

Period	01 Jan 2016 → 01 Jan 2017
Event title	Athena SWAN Working Group 3 (School of Nursing and Midwifery)
Event type	Other
Degree of Recognition	Local