Support for Schools

Why get involved with Athena Swan?

• Be part of meaningful, fulfilling work that drives positive cultural change within your School and the wider university community.
• Join a movement that’s already making progress — Actions derived from the Athena Swan work at Institutional and College/School level are already making significant impact. Further details on progress can be found here. 
• Connect and collaborate with others working on equality through the Athena Swan Champions Network, learning from best practices across other Schools/Units.
• Use the Athena Swan framework as a practical tool to:

  • • Understand the experiences of your staff and students more deeply.

    • Reflect on and improve your School's internal culture.

    • Advance equality, diversity, and inclusion in a structured, sustainable way.

• Support your School in achieving departmental Athena Swan accreditation, which is essential for institutional progress.
• Gain valuable experience in self-assessment, data analysis, action planning, and inclusive leadership — skills that benefit both individuals and University of Galway as a whole.
• Your involvement directly contributes to University of Galway’s ability to meet HEA deadlines and targets.

Internal Resources for Schools

The first point of contact for Schools interested in starting the journey toward Athena Swan accreditation is the EDI Programme Manager for Gender Equality in the Office of the Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (OVPEDI). 

Data for School/Unit applications can be accessed via the central office 365 Athena Swan Power BI App  The contact point for data is the EDI Data Manager. ‌

Resources including guidelines, sample applications, and learnings from the previous institutional and school submissions are available on the University's Athena Swan Resources SharePoint Site.

School application timelines are managed by the OVPEDI to ensure that appropriate support is available. If you are thinking of starting the application process, contact the EDI Programme Manager for Gender Equality.

Guidance from Athena Swan Ireland

Athena Swan Ireland have developed a comprehensive suite of supports and resources for those applying for Athena Swan awards.

Find out more about Athena Swan in Ireland.

Learn how to begin your self-assessment, consult with your team, and start writing your review application, including specific guidance on developing actions and complying with word counts.

If you have further questions, make sure to review the Athena SWAN FAQs.