To mark International Women’s Day, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey, hosted a thought-provoking discussion on leading departmental change in gender equality.
The event featured speakers from four departments at the University of Oxford that have made remarkable strides in closing their academic gender gaps over the past decade. These departments—Economics, Primary Care Health Sciences, Physics, and Paediatrics—have all improved the proportion of female professors, in many cases improving from only 1-2 women professors as recently as five years ago.
All speakers felt that a big contributor to the change was the drive for Athena Swan departmental achievement (acting as both the ‘stick’ and the ‘carrot’). In 2023, for the first time, the University received an institutional Silver award, acknowledging the progress that had been made over the previous 5 years. This complemented, and was anchored in, the work done by departments and faculties to commit to closing their gender gaps, with 43 departments holding awards in 2025, and 4 of these Gold departments.
Oxford was a founder member of the Athena Swan Charter in 2005, and has held an institutional Athena Swan Bronze award since 2006.
International Women's Day serves as an important checkpoint on our continuing journey toward gender equity … It marks a moment to celebrate remarkable achievements by women and to recommit to the work still ahead.
Professor Richard Hobbs, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences
Watch the recording of the event (behind SSO)
Learn more about what the University is doing on gender equality
- The Oxford Women’s Staff Network (OWN) recently re-launched. The network is anchored in a shared commitment to raising the profile of women at Oxford and creating a supportive, inclusive and motivated community that connects women from across the collegiate University.
- In a significant enhancement to its Family Leave scheme, the Oxford University Additional Paternity/Partner leave scheme came into effect on 31 January 2025, with the new policy extending the leave period up to 12 weeks.
- The Equality and Diversity Unit is keen to support everyone at Oxford to parent ‘out loud.’ By opening a conversation with parents and carers, we aim to create a more inclusive workplace that challenges outdated gender norms. Join us for “Can Dads Have It All?” on 26 March, for a virtual event facilitated by Ian Dinwiddy of Inspiring Dads; this session will explore modern fatherhood, work-life balance, and why equal parenting benefits everyone.
- In 2024, a Gender Pay Gap Task and Finish Group undertook an in-depth analysis of the University’s mean and median gender pay gaps, and a series of recommended actions are underway. Find out more about this work and read the recommendations.
- The Returning Carers’ Fund supports academics and researchers who have taken a break for parenting/caring responsibilities to re-establish their research careers. In the 23-24 academic year, 45 applicants received a Returning Carers Fund award at an average reward amount of £5,143, including five applicants returning from a period of Shared Parental Leave.
