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²ÝÁñÊÓƵ (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ) Leicester’s School of Pharmacy has successfully renewed its Athena Swan Bronze Award.

Led by colleagues in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, the school has been awarded for its commitment to gender equality, which has been implemented through its five-year action plan.

All four schools within the faculty currently hold an Athena Swan bronze award with the Leicester School of Pharmacy becoming the first one to make a successful renewal submission since first achieving its award in 2019.

The school now has a reinvigorated action plan to embed over the next five years, driving forward an agenda to further embed gender equality in the school's culture and operations.

Ahmed Aboo, Head of the Leicester School of Pharmacy, said: "I'm really proud of our team here at the Leicester School of Pharmacy. The successful renewal of our award is testament to the ongoing efforts and progress made by staff and students in fostering an equitable and supportive environment.  

"It's a significant milestone that reflects our dedication to continuous improvement and excellence in gender equality. A big thank you to everyone on the School of Pharmacy's Athena Swan committee, especially Daniel Carter, Dr Emma Johnston and Dr Federico Brucoli."

Daniel Carter, Project Officer for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, said: "During the submission process, the Athena Swan team and wider school staff demonstrated a real commitment to creating a more equal and progressive culture.

"I've had the pleasure of working with each school in the faculty to achieve an Athena Swan award and each time I'm struck by the sheer dedication demonstrated by all staff involved, despite the competing demands that come with a role in higher education."

The Athena Swan charter is a comprehensive framework that higher education institutions are able to adopt as a way of tackling gender inequalities amongst staff and students, with particular attention paid to the career pipeline for women.

The prestigious accolade, awarded by Advance HE, involved a rigorous process, which required an in-depth analysis of the data across the school through a gender equality lens, looking at areas such as representation, progression, career journey, and the working environment.

The submission will be published online in the coming weeks and you can read more about the Athena Swan activity taking place across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.