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About us
Over ten years experience supporting staff and students as the higher education equality body
Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) works to further and support equality and diversity for staff and students in higher education across all four nations of the UK, and in colleges in Scotland.
ECU works closely with colleges and universities to seek to ensure that staff and students are not unfairly excluded, marginalised or disadvantaged because of age, disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity status, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or through any combination of these characteristics or other unfair treatment.
Providing a central source of expertise, research, advice and leadership, we support institutions in building a culture that provides equality of both opportunity and outcome, promotes good relations, values the benefits of diversity and provides a model of equality for the wider UK society.
Our work
Strategic plan
ECU launches a new three-year strategic plan in 2011. The strategy was developed through consultation with the sector, our funders and individual practitioners.
As part of our strategic plan we undertake an annual survey to assess the impact that our work has had on equality and diversity in higher education.
2013 programme
Our programme of work for 2013 focuses on delivering practical support for universities across the UK and colleges in Scotland
Bespoke services
Alongside our core services, ECU can now offer a range of additional cost-effective bespoke services for HEIs seeking targeted support.
Invitations to tender
ECU commissions research to support many of our projects. You can find current invitations to tender here:
Our team
ECU has a team of policy staff with in-depth knowledge and experience of equality and diversity within the higher education context.
Working for us
Find out about working for ECU and any current job opportunities here:
Governance
ECU is a registered charity, funded by grants from the UK higher education sector funding bodies, with contributions from Universities UK and GuildHE.
ECU became a company limited by guarantee in 2006.