Please see a copy of a note I/98/173 that went to vice-chancellors on
Friday 18 December on 2 new CVCP/CUCO projects. If you would like
copies of the I -Note please contact Rachel at CVCP on 0171 419 5467.

The Athena Project on Women in Science, Engineering and Technology and
the Women in Higher Education Register


Introduction

1. Details are attached of two new UK wide initiatives on women in
higher education to be launched in February 1999

* The Athena Project on women in science, engineering and
technology
* The Women in Higher Education Register.

The Athena Project

2. The Athena project is part of the agenda of the Commission on
University Career Opportunity (CUCO). The project focuses on the current
loss to the HE sector of the skills and talents of women in the fields
of science, engineering and technology (SET) in higher education. In
particular:

* those women who do not enter, or consider entering, careers in
higher education
* those women who are not retained in the sector.

3. The project aims:

* to increase the number of women in SET in higher education
* to facilitate the achievement of a 10% improvement in the rate
of appointment of women to academic posts at all levels by 2003.

The Women's Register in Higher education

4. The Register will collect, analyse and disseminate information
on women in higher education collectively and individually. The
Register will provide data and analysis and IT support for the Athena
project.
During its first year of operation the focus will be on women in
SET at all levels and senior women in all management areas, services and
disciplines throughout the sector.

5. Further information and contact addresses for both initiatives are
attached as:

I/98/173(b) Briefing note on Athena
I/98/173(c) Briefing note on Women in Higher Education Register.


Launch of Athena Project and the Women in Higher Education Register, 23
February 1999

6. Both initiatives will be launched at the Department of Trade and
Industry Conference Centre, Westminster, on Tuesday 23 February 1999
when Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Minister of Science, Professor Brian
Fender, Chief-Executive of Higher Education Funding Council for England,
Professor Julia Higgins, Chair of the Athena Steering Committee, among
others, will address an audience including heads of institutions,
representatives of the Research Councils, professional institutions and
industry.

Action at institutional level

7. The aim of the launch is to inform, influence and engage key
stake-holders and the success of the project will depend on the
development of an active partnership between the groups represented at
the launch. Heads of institutions are therefore invited to attend the
launch at 4.30 on Tuesday 23 February or to nominate a senior colleague
to represent their institution at the launch. Presentations will be
followed by a reception until 6.00pm.

8. The booking form for the launch is attached. Please return by
15 January to:

Caroline Fox
Athena Project Team
15 Princes Gardens
Exhibition Road
LONDON SW7 2AZ.

FAX: 0171 594 5510

9. Admission is by ticket only and these will be sent in February.

10. Where an institution already has an active programme to
encourage women's careers and progression in SET they may wish to
forward information on it to the Athena Project at the above address,
together with the name of the officer responsible. It may be possible
to invite some additional institutional representatives to the launch
and regional events are planned for later in the year to which they will
be invited.


Booking Form
I/98/173(a)

Launch of Athena Project and the Women in Higher Education Register

Tuesday 23 February 1999, 4.30pm followed by a wine reception

Department of Trade and Industry
Conference Centre
1 Victoria Street
LONDON
SW1H 0ET



Name:
........................................................................
...

Institution:
........................................................................
...

Address:
........................................................................
...


........................................................................
...


........................................................................
...

Position:
........................................................................
...

Telephone:
........................................................................
...

E-mail:
........................................................................
...

I shall be attending the Athena launch YES/NO (Please delete as
appropriate)

If sending a representative please state name and
position........................................


Please return this completed form by fax or by post by 15 January 1999
to:

Caroline Fox
Athena Project Team
15 Princes gardens
Exhibition Road
LONDON SW7 2AZ

Fax 0171 594 5510 or Email c.fox:ic.ac.uk

I/98/173(c)


Background information on the Women's Register

The Register is funded by CVCP, with additional support from the UK
funding bodies, for its work on the Athena Project on women in SET.
However, the Register is open to all women working in HE, whatever their
role and members are welcome from all service providers, administrative
and managerial staff as well as from women in all academic disciplines.

The Register's core business is the collection, analysis and
dissemination of information on women in HE, collectively and
individually and the Register will provide research material/information
about women in HE and their:
* education, qualifications academic and professional, skills and
skill shortages
* employment and career patterns including promotion within and
outside HE
* pay levels
* areas of special interest, publications and current research
* membership of professional, national/regional bodies/committees
etc.

The Register's targets are to:
* remove the barriers to discrimination for women at all levels
* to significantly increase the number of women in top posts by
2007

The Register through the Athena Project and other means will address a
number of significant issues for women in HE for example:
* training and development
* under utilisation, inequalities of opportunity and outcome
* career breaks, retention and returners
* progression and promotion
* stalled and frustrated career ambitions.

The Register will offer services to its members, including:
* resources and opportunities for networking with other women in
HE
* career and personal development workshops
* a base for raising the profile of women in HE
* assistance to participating in decision making and influencing
forums.

The contribution of the HE personnel function is critical to the
Register's success. The initial data collection will be simple and
paper based. The information collected will be sufficient to allow
second level data gathering on a targeted basis. In its first year the
Register will focus on women in SET and senior women throughout the
sector. The second level data collection and communication with members
will normally be via Email and WWW.

The Register's web site will be available from mid January 1999. It
will have further information on activities and services for members and
will include up to date information on the Athena Project and on other
UK organisations and activities of interest to women in HE.


E8/6/13




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