Mentoring women in science, engineering and technology in higher education

The Athena Project is a UK-wide initiative which aims to improve the access, participation and promotion of women in science, engineering and technology (SET) in Higher Education (HE). The project developed out of the UK Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals´ (CVCP) agenda to remove barriers and discrimination against women in HE and to significantly increase the number of women in senior positions by 2007. In 1999, six BE institutions in the UK were awarded development grants to support schemes to further the aims of the Athena Project. The funding obtained by Bolton Institute was used to help set up a pilot mentoring scheme for female staff and students in SET.