Brunel University of London's Department of Computer Science has been awarded Athena Swan Silver Award by Advance HE, in recognition of the department’s commitment to gender equality.
Athena Swan is a national scheme run by higher education improvement charity Advance HE. In 2021 its framework was updated to promote greater inclusivity, encompassing the experiences of all staff and students, regardless of their gender identity, and acknowledging the impact of intersectional inequalities.
The Silver award, valid for five years, reflects the department’s collective and sustained efforts toward equity and inclusion. Having first earned a Bronze award in 2016, renewed in 2020, the department undertook a comprehensive review of its progress and priorities. The latest submission, led by Dr Cigdem Sengul and a committed Self-Assessment Team, delivered an ambitious and impactful action plan that led to the higher-level award.
A trajectory of inclusivity
In recent years, the department has grown significantly: the undergraduate population has increased from 800 in 2018/19 to 1,230 in 2023/24, and 87% of current undergraduates identify as being from minority ethnic groups. The postgraduate programmes in Artificial Intelligence, in Data Science and Analytics, and in the newly introduced Human–AI Interaction are also attracting more women into computing.
Through an initiative funded by the Office for Students and launched in 2020, the department has awarded 42 scholarships to students from underrepresented groups in the field of data science and AI. In 2023, the MSc apprenticeship in Digital Technology Solutions Specialist was rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with women in the programme describing it as ‘a game-changer’ for their professional development.
To align with growth and equity goals, the department has taken intentional steps to build a more inclusive and diverse academic community. There have been recent increases in the proportion of women among permanent staff, in the number of women promoted to Reader (between the levels of Senior Lecturer and Professor) and in the number of women leading or co-leading Research Groups.
“Our commitment to gender equality also reaches beyond Brunel,” said Dr Sengul, a Reader in Computer Science. “We continue to collaborate with local schools to challenge stereotypes and broaden perceptions of who belongs in computing, especially among girls and underrepresented communities.”
Towards a truly inclusive future
“We are delighted to receive the Athena SWAN Silver award, which recognises the dedication and commitment of our department to equity, inclusion, and creating an environment where everyone can thrive,” Dr Sengul added. “We look forward to building on this progress and contributing to a truly inclusive future in computing.”
Professor Kate Hone, Head of Brunel’s Department of Computer Science, commented: “I’d like to thank everyone involved in this great achievement and especially our Athena Swan Lead and Self-Assessment Team. I am truly proud of the progress we have made and am committed to supporting the future strategic priorities that we have collectively identified within our department.
“This recognition affirms the department’s long-term commitment to making computing more inclusive at Brunel, across our communities, and throughout the wider sector. We look forward to building on this momentum and working with others to create a more equitable future in STEM.”
The Self-Assessment Team, led by Dr Cigdem Sengul, included Prof Kate Hone, Dr Nadine Aburumman, Dr Isabel Sassoon, Dr Nour Ali, Dr Monica Pereira, Dr Antonios Kaniadakis, Prof Mark Perry, Dr Thomas Coleman, Dr Annette Payne, Dr Armin Keshafi, Dr Giuseppe Destefanis, Ms Fawzia Zehra Kara-Isitt, and Ms Ursula Lander.
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