Annette WilliamsUK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology

www.ukrc4setwomen.org

UK strategy for women in science, engineering and technology

10 years of EU activities in Women and Science, and BEYONDPrague 14-15th May 2009

UKRC - background and who we are

Government strategy:

Rising Tide, DTI, 1993

Government unit

SET Fair Report, DTI, 2002

Government Strategy for Women in

SET, DTI, 2003

Resource Centre - contract 2004-11

Equality Act 2006– gender duty

Single Equality Bill –single duty

Programmes & projects

Research and development

Catalyst

Influencer

Partnership

Policy change

Resource Centre

VISION & STRATEGY

Strategic outcome 1

Organisational and Cultural Change

Strategic outcome 2

Supporting individual women to access and progress in SET careers

SO1 - SO2

Programmes and projects

VISION

Connecting women and SETorganisations

Influencing government, industry, academia,

research councils, professional institutes, media,

trade unions etc

By 2030 there will be an environment in UK SET employment, research and policy-making, in which women contribute, participate and share the benefits equally with their male colleagues.

Business benefits Social justice

Evidencing the business &

individual benefits, outcomes and impacts. Sharing good practice

Model

Supportingindividual women at 4 careerstages

Enabling organisational andcultural change

Technical training grants

OU T160 course

Bursaries

Mentoring

CPD events

Support networks

GetSET women

Public bodies

Leadership programme

OrganisationalTransformation journey

Commitment

Engagement

Product portfolio

Gender mentoring

Award and recognition

Organisational and cultural change: 2 charter and recognition schemes

Athena Swan Charter25% of all eligible

universities are now members.

Recognition scheme: self assessment process / one round per year

•Awards to:

21 universities – bronze level

11 departments –silver/gold

•Follow up:

•Case studies, Fact sheets

CEO charterLeadership commitment

73 companies signed up

Quality Mark – recognition scheme:

•4 levers

•Continuous improvement

•External assessment

•Pilots May – June 09 /

Getting In

Getting Established

Getting Back

Getting to the Top

Supporting individual women to

access a

nd progress in SET careers

APPROACH:•Flexible and varied programme•Individual needs identification •Coordinators covering all of GB

PORTFOLIO:•Development programmes •Employment progression support•Grants & bursaries•Raising visibility

POSITIVE OUTCOMESAverage of 14 women entry/return to work,

training, education per month since April 2008

Women of Outstanding Achievement Portraits

• 2m x 1.5m portraits – 6 each year since 2006

• Purpose:– Raising the profile of women in

SET– Changing the symbols of culture

• 16 out of 24 now on permanent loan:– 5 Royal Society– 3 Royal Academy of Engineering

• Impact on careers of women• Led to spin out projects - Korea

Web links

• www.ukrc4setwomen.org• http://www.ukrc4setwomen.org/html/employers/ceo-charter/• http://www.athenaswan.org.uk/html/athena-swan/awards/current-

award-holders