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Creating positive change for a gender-equal working and research culture
with a focus on Science, Maths, Computing and Technology
This event took place on 19th October 2007 at 10:00am (09:00 GMT)
Berrill Lecture Theatre, The Open University, Walton Hall Campus, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Whilst focused on Science, Engineering and Technology (SET), the learning and good practice shared during this event is likely to be relevant to the achievement of men and women in many units across the OU, so this event will appeal to anyone with responsibilities for implementing the OU’s Gender Equality Scheme, or those interested in gender equality issues. In particular, this event will help us to identify and address cultural practices and norms that might be perpetuating the under achievement of women in SET.
Background
The OU has been a partner since 2004, in the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (UKRC), a high profile government initiative to support women in SET. An important area of their work has included supporting employers in HE, as well as industry to identify and overcome those workplace practices and norms of organisational culture, which might be preventing women in SET from achieving their potential. Changing our culture will help us address horizontal and vertical gender based occupational segregation.
Purpose
The purpose of this event is to:- Raise awareness of where we are on gender equality at the Open University.
- Share information about gender equality issues and initiatives nationally in Higher Education with a focus on SET.
- Share the expertise and good practice from the UKRC and JIVE projects.
- Inspire, encourage and enable senior staff to take a lead in tackling gender inequality within SET.
Programme
Session 1
09.30 Doors open.
10.00 Welcome and introduction: Clem Herman, Senior Lecturer, Department of Information and Communication Technologies and Dr Barbara Hodgson, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Educational Technologies.
10.10 Key note speaker 1: Professor Brigid Heywood, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Staff) - the OU context, where we are now on gender equality, actions/initiatives being taken.
10.30 Key note speaker 2: Norma Jarboe, Director, Opportunity Now - national gender issues, examples of best practice, current gender initiatives.
10.50 Comfort break.
Session 2
11.00 Key note speaker 3: Dr Sean McWhinnie, Manager, Science Policy, Royal Society of Chemistry – the work of the RSC around issues of Women in SET, and dissemination of good practice in the field.
11.20 Key note speaker 4: Professor Peter Main, Director, Education and Science, Institute of Physics – initiatives the IOP has implemented to change workplace culture.
11.40 Key note speaker 5: Julie Ashdown, Athena SWAN Charter Coordinator, Equality Challenge Unit - the Athena SWAN Charter initiative.
12.00 Questions and answers.
12.20 End of open sessions.
Links
The Open University website, equality and diversity. www.open.ac.uk/about/thiswebsite
UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology. www.setwomenresource.org.uk
JIVE. www.jivepartners.org.uk
Opportunity Now. www.opportunitynow.org.uk
Royal Society of Chemistry. www.rsc.org/ScienceAndTechnology/Policy/Documents
Institute of Physics. www.iop.org/activity/diversity
Athena SWAN Charter. www.royalsoc.ac.uk/athenaswan
Equality Challenge Unit. www.ecu.ac.uk/guidance/womenandmen/
and www.ecu.ac.uk/about/contact_staff.htm |
The webcast was open to 400 users
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 Click below to play the event (150 minutes) |
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