What do panellists and observers do?
Panellists read the applications, assess them against set criteria, and submit their scores and feedback via our online system to determine whether an award should be conferred and at what level. Where there is no consensus in scoring, or where the
moderator determines it is necessary, a panel meeting may be convened to discuss applications further.
Observers can witness both the assessment process and, where applicable, panel discussions. This role can be especially helpful for those working towards an Athena Swan Ireland application. Observers do not take part in the decision-making process and do not vote. If a panel meeting takes place, they may be asked for their opinions, but only after panellists have made their decision, ensuring they do not influence the outcome.
Who can be a panellist and/or observer?
Awards panels will usually be made up of three people, and review up to two applications.
To qualify as a panellist you need to study, work or have recently worked in the Irish higher education (HE) or research sector. Depending on the role, consultants that work in the HE sector may not qualify to become a panellist.
Anyone eligible to become a panellist can be an observer.
In constructing panels, Advance HE seeks to achieve appropriate representation, including gender balance, and a mix of experienced and new panellists. Advance HE draws panellists from the following groups of people:
- academic, research and technical services staff
- human resources or equality and diversity practitioners with experience of higher education
- other professional services staff with experience of higher education and/or research
- specialists (for example industry and research institute representatives, members or employees of learned and professional societies and equality specialists as appropriate)
- students.
Why become a panellist?
Participating as an Athena Swan Ireland panellist provides invaluable insight into the assessment process. You will gain a more detailed understanding of how applications are assessed and how other institutions analyse their data and make progress on their action plans. Reading through multiple applications will also provide you with good practice ideas which could be implemented in your institution.
Becoming a panel member also gives you an opportunity to share your equality and diversity knowledge and/or subject expertise with peers from other institutions. It is an opportunity to build your professional networks and knowledge of equality and diversity.
What does being a panellist involve?
You will need to complete online panellist training before being able to be assigned to a panel. Currently, Athena Swan Ireland panellist training consists of an online video and a panellist guidance document. You should allow approximately one hour to complete both. You will receive this information via a panel pack of resources, including additional guidance materials and videos that you may find useful.
If you are assigned as a panellist, you will be required to read in detail up to two Athena Swan Ireland applications and submit feedback. As a guideline, each application may take approximately five hours to read and assess.
Where a panel meeting is necessary, it will be scheduled for up to one hour and will take place via Microsoft Teams. You will be required to attend.
During the meeting, the panel discusses each application in turn, led by a chair drawn from the panel. There is also a moderator from Advance HE, who does not have a vote.
How to become a panellist?
If you have registered your interest, we will let you know when we are seeking new panellists.
In the lead-up to an application round, we email all potential panellists with an availability poll, which must be completed by the specified deadline. At that time, any previous panellists should also let us know if there have been any changes (for example, if you have moved institutions) and ensure that you have completed the panellist training within the last two years.
Once we have finalised panellist allocations, assigned panellists will be contacted and informed by email that they have been assigned to review applications via SurveyMonkey Apply (SMA).
If you are a first-time reviewer, you will be invited to join the platform and create an account before accessing your assigned applications. Returning panellists can simply log in to view their assigned applications.
All necessary guidance and information on serving as a panellist will be provided in this
assignment email.
There is no scheduled panel meeting at this stage. If, after reviewing submitted feedback, the moderator determines that a panel discussion is required, panellists will be contacted to arrange a suitable time.
We will also notify potential panellists who were not allocated to a panel this round.
Please note that panel places are limited in each round, and conflicts of interest must be managed for all panels; therefore, we cannot guarantee allocation for all registered panellists.
