Celebrating Equality Charters Anniversaries

Over this period, engagement with the Charters has grown across the UK and Irish sectors. In 2025, we invite all Charters members to celebrate 20 years of the UK Athena Swan Charter, 10 years of the Race Equality Charter (REC), and a decade of Athena Swan Ireland.

• The UK Athena Swan Charter has expanded from the original 10 founding members to a membership of 131 with a combined total of 985 awards.
• Since its beginnings in 2015, REC membership has grown to 108, including 11 Small Specialist Institutions and Research Institutes (SSI/RI) participating in a REC Pilot. A combined total of 61 institutional awards.
• All of Ireland’s universities and institutes of technology, as well as a number of colleges, have participated in the Athena Swan Ireland Charter – 19 institutions and 113 departments have received awards, with a combined total of 133 institutional awards.

These awards are a testament to the collective action of thousands of leaders, practitioners, staff and students, across the years, to tackle gender, race and intersectional inequalities in higher education so that the sector can benefit from the talents of all. 

Reflecting on the Impact of Athena Swan

These videos highlight how Athena Swan is shaping culture, supporting people, and driving progress across the sector. They reflect how meaningful change happens through inclusion, leadership, and shared commitment.

Reflecting on the Impact of REC

These videos highlight how the Race Equality Charter is shaping culture, supporting people and driving progress across the sector.