Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Janet Beer has received an honorary degree from Queen’s University Belfast in recognition of her work on gender equality.
Dame Janet is known for her drive to improve equality and diversity in the higher education sector and beyond. As Chair of the then Equality Challenge Unit, she significantly raised the profile of the equality and diversity challenges in the sector and championed the adoption of Athena SWAN and other charters in support of university staff across the country.
In December last year she was recognised for her services to both higher education and equality and diversity in the New Year’s Honours list.
Professor Beer is particularly passionate about supporting and encouraging women in leadership positions and has overseen considerable institutional success in this area. The University of Liverpool has seen a rapid increase in appointments of female professors in recent years and, in 2017, was awarded its first Athena SWAN Gold award in recognition of its work to promote gender equality.
Dame Janet said: “I am very pleased to be recognised by Queen’s University Belfast in this manner. I have much admiration for this institution and applaud its commitment to gender equality and diversity. It is wonderful to see Queen’s University Belfast push forward with addressing this important issue.”
The graduation ceremony took place at Queen’s University Belfast on Thursday, 13 December.