2012 programme

All our work aims to support institutions in building a culture that provides equality and 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 projects for 2012 have been developed in line with our strategic aims, in consultation with stakeholders including higher education institutions, sector organisations and equality practitioner networks.

Following feedback from ECU's first annual stakeholder survey, our work in 2012 focuses on delivering practical support for colleges and universities. From senior management to academics, international officers to equality specialists, our work will assist you to meet equality challenges and responsibilities in a changing economic, political and educational landscape.

An overview of our upcoming work is below, with examples of related projects.

Download the programme leaflet: Our work programme for 2012

Evolve

Helping institutions to meet the challenges of an evolving economic and funding environment

Equality and the Research Excellence Framework (REF)

Support for institutions and the the national REF team to ensure the widest range of submissions and fairness in the REF through training, online guidance and resource materials.

• REF and equality project
• REF and equality materials
  

Access agreements

Research, consultancy and training to support HEIs to meet new access agreement requirements, including better recruitment and retention of disabled, BME and mature students.

• Equitable admissions: facilitating entry of underrepresented groups to HE
  

International students

Assistance for institutions improving equality for international students to give them the edge in the global market, based on the experiences of Scottish HEIs.

• Attracting international students: equitable services and support, campus cohesion and community engagement
  

The changing higher education environment

Exploration of the potential impacts of the new higher education fees, funding and regulatory framework on equality and student demographics.

Assist

Assisting institutions to meet and embed the requirements and ambitions of equality legislation

Legal requirements

Events and briefings on issues specific to higher and further education arising from the Equality Act 2010, including meeting the specific duties in England, Scotland and Wales.

Good relations

Materials and workshops addressing conflict and developing and promoting good relations on campus, especially in relation to religion and belief and sexual orientation.

• Promoting good relations project
  

Mainstreaming equality in governance and management

Practical sessions on initiatives to mainstream equality, particularly in governance and senior management, building on ECU's action learning programme with Scottish HEIs and colleges.

• Mainstreaming: equality at the heart of further and higher education project
• Governing bodies: equality and diversity
  

Procurement

Guidance and tools to support embedding equality into the purchasing cycle, working with the Association of University Procurement Officers.

• Managing procurement to promote equality in further and higher education project
  

Transform

Developing strategies and methodologies to transform systemic or cultural practices and approaches which unfairly exclude, marginalise or disadvantage individuals or groups

Athena SWAN

Recognition scheme promoting innovation and good practice in employment of women in science, engineering and technology in higher education.

• Athena SWAN
  

Promoting systemic change

Work with institutions on pilot schemes to address cultural and systemic barriers for black and minority ethnic and female staff, and exploration of other schemes across different protected characteristics.

• Systemic change pilots: Advancing race equality and Advancing gender equality
  

Unconscious bias in recruitment and selection

Joint work with the University of Manchester on addressing unconscious racial bias in recruitment and selection processes in HEIs.

Quality reporting frameworks

Research into existing good practice on equality reporting structures for colleges in Scotland, and the development of tools to embed equality into quality assurance arrangements.

Understand

Gathering and using evidence of, and data on, equality and diversity within the higher and further education sector at a national and local level

Equality statistical reports

Overview of equality challenges facing UK higher education institutions and colleges in Scotland to help inform institutions' equality objectives and prioritise their actions for change.

• Equality in Scotland's colleges: statistical report project
  
• Equality in higher education: statistical report
  

Atypical staff

Guidance on collecting better quality equality data on no-academic atypical staff to help institutions to meet their duties under equality legislation.

Removing barriers to different impairments

Materials to support institutions develop inclusive approaches considering the range of different impairments of disabled staff and students.

• Removing barriers for different impairments
  

International staff

Guidance on effective practice to strengthen and improve support for international staff, based on research into their experiences.

•  Supporting international staff
  

More details

Find more details and discover the full range of our work in Our projects.