The department was notified of its success, after its first application was reviewed by an independent panel. The department will now hold the Bronze award until 2026.

The department is internationally recognised for innovative qualitative and quantitative research on language that advances both theory and practical applications. It currently ranks 15th in the world for Linguistics in the QS World University Rankings 2021.

Professor Uta Papen, Head of the Linguistics and English Language Department said, “I am very pleased our submission has been successful. Achieving the Bronze award will significantly strengthen and expand our EDI work. Many thanks to everyone in the Department who has been involved. My biggest thanks go to our Athena Swan and EDI lead Claire Nance.”

Dr Claire Nance, head of the Self Assessment Team said, “I am really happy that this award has been made! Everyone in Linguistics and English Language worked together to produce our submission and we are really proud of the result. We have been able to recognise the wonderful work on gender equality many colleagues are already doing, as well as develop a structured action plan to further improve. I’m so grateful to everyone who gave time and expertise to contribute to this submission.”

Kathy New, Athena Swan Programme Manager said, “This is fantastic news for the department, and the University as a whole, recognising the great work of Claire and the Self Assessment Team. Our departmental awards work synergistically with our institutional Athena Swan activity, and other initiatives such as the Concordat to support researcher career progression, to drive forward gender and wider equality across the whole institution. The Linguistics and English Language award is the latest and very welcome addition, with a great Action Plan to promote gender equality, and I look forward to seeing the impact of their actions over the next few years.”

About the Athena Swan Charter

The Athena Swan Charter was formed in 2005 to challenge the under-representation and inequalities of women within science at higher education and research levels. In 2015, it was broadened to include the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business and Law, as well as looking at issues around gender equality more widely.

The Charter is currently undergoing a transformation that will see Lancaster University and other Award holders signing up to a new set of revised principles over the summer, with some welcome changes. These changes include recognising gender as a spectrum, greater focus on the intersectionality of gender with other protected characteristics, and ensuring institutions and departments recognise and support the efforts of individuals working on Athena Swan.

For more information about Lancaster University’s work on gender equality and the Athena Swan awards, please see Lancaster University’s EDI webpage.