Equalitylink February 2010

Welcome

Equality Challenge Unit supports the higher education sector to promote equality and diversity for all staff and students. Equalitylink is a monthly bulletin keeping you up to date with current equality and diversity issues and with the work of ECU.

Equality Bill

Government response to consultation on the specific duties

On 25 January 2010, the government published a response to the consultation on the specific duties of the Equality Bill:

Equality Bill: Making it work - Policy proposals for specific duties

ECU has produced a brief update on the government's revised proposals for the specific duties that may follow on from the enactment of the Equality Bill and have implications for higher education institutions (HEIs).

Equality Bill update

Equality Bill

Further amendments proposed

As the Equality Bill progresses through the House of Lords, several amendments have been proposed, including restricting the use of pre-employment health questionnaires in the early stages of recruitment.

Pre-employment health checks (RADAR)

Gender Equality Schemes

Deadline for revised schemes

Most English HEIs must revise and publish their latest Gender Equality Scheme by 30 April 2010 in order to meet the legal requirements of the Gender Equality Duty.

Most Scottish HEIs must revise and publish their Gender Equality Scheme by 28 September 2010.

ECU has produced guidance to remind institutions of the essential components of a Gender Equality Scheme, outline the legal requirements and highlight elements that could be included in a revised plan.

Revising Gender Equality Schemes

No change in proportion of female professors

The latest figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that progress in increasing the proportion of professors and heads of department who are female has slowed almost to a standstill.

Data from the 2008/09 HESA staff record shows that 18.7% of professors are female, the same proportion as for the academic year before.

HESA staff data

HESA disabled student codes

Changes to codes for recording disabled students 2010/11

HESA has made changes to the codes for recording disabled students in order to align all of the previous coding frames, following requests from HEIs.

HESA student record changes

Religion and belief: researching the experience of staff and students

ECU's latest work on religion and belief focuses on investigating the inclusion and participation of higher education staff and students with different religions and beliefs.

The project includes a large-scale survey and focus groups to investigate if any barriers to participation or other issues exist across the sector. The findings will be used to develop an evidence base and understanding of the experiences of staff and students.

We are now looking to commission researchers to undertake this investigation, the first of its kind looking into religion and belief in HE.

Invitation to tender

Closing date: 24 February 2010

Religion and belief in HE project

Equality Bill guidance consultation

ECU has been working closely with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to ensure that the needs and experiences of HEIs are reflected in non-statutory guidance and codes of practice to support the implementation of the Equality Bill.

The non-statutory guidance aims to help people understand the Equality Act and how it will affect them, and will cover employment, services and public functions, and education.

The draft guidance is now open for general consultation until 16 April 2010.

Equality Bill non-statutory guidance consultation

Save the date

Dates for ECU national conference announced

Every two years ECU holds a major national conference addressing key issues facing the progression of equality and diversity in HE.

This insightful and informative event returns this year with an expanded two-day programme of inspirational speakers and focused breakout sessions addressing the need to accelerate thinking and action on equality in higher education.

The combination of new equality legislation, a more complex equality landscape and the demands of the rapid demographic changes facing HEIs means that the sector must act now on equality in order to make any headway in realising the potential of all students and staff.

Accelerating equality in higher education will take place on 17 and 18 November 2010, at the Victoria Park Plaza Hotel, London.

Make sure to save the dates. Further information and details of how to book will be circulated in future issues of Equalitylink and on our website.

Read more about ECU work and ongoing projects on our website www.ecu.ac.uk/projects.

Athena SWAN Charter coordinator

Part-time: 21 hours per week

The Athena SWAN Charter is a recognition scheme for UK HEIs and their science, engineering and technology (SET) departments. It aims to assist the recruitment, retention and progression of women in SET.

The part-time coordinator role includes delivering and continuing to develop the charter, promoting its benefits to HEIs, organising workshops, overseeing the annual awards process and coordinating research into the impact and outcomes of Athena SWAN.

Athena SWAN coordinator

Closing date: Wednesday 3 March 2010

Senior Policy Adviser (maternity cover)

Maternity cover 12 months fixed-term contract or potential secondment opportunity

ECU wish to appoint a Senior Policy Adviser (maternity cover) to lead our work on disability.

The Senior Policy Adviser will work within ECU's policy team, assisted by the Policy Adviser for disability, to research and develop a range of projects addressing different aspects of equality for disabled staff and students within the higher education sector.

Senior Policy Adviser (maternity cover)

Closing date: Monday 8 March 2010

ECU Board member

Join our Board and contribute to the strategic direction of ECU

ECU is inviting applications for an additional position on our Board of Directors, offering an opportunity to join a dynamic and diverse Board at an exciting point in ECU's development.

Board members provide vision and strategic direction to ECU, working with the incoming Chief Executive to ensure the successful delivery of our mission to support and promote equality and diversity in the higher education sector.

Join ECU's Board

Closing date: Monday 1 March 2010

Disability legislation: practical guidance for academic staff

Revised and extended edition

This joint ECU and Higher Education Academy publication revises and extends previous guidance first published in 2006.

The guidance aims to:

• Raise awareness and understanding among academic staff in HE of their responsibilities towards disabled students under current legislation.
• Promote a more inclusive approach to learning, teaching and assessment.
• Explore some of the issues for disabled students during their academic study.
• Provide practical examples of how academic staff can support disabled students to participate at all stages of their programmes.
• Provide examples of relevant sources of support.

Disability legislation: practical guidance for academics (revised)

An anatomy of economic inequality in the UK

Report of the National Equality Panel

The National Equality Panel has released a report investigating the relationship between the distributions of various kinds of economic outcome and people's protected characteristics.

The report includes an analysis of educational outcomes (for example, the highest educational qualifications of adults) and employment status.

An anatomy of economic inequality in the UK

LexDis

Understanding disabled students' experiences of technology and e-learning

A website providing advice and guidance for lecturers and others working in higher education using or developing online learning materials.

All strategies on the website have been developed from the experiences of students as part of a project by the University of Southampton, funded by JISC.

LexDis

LGBT History Month

Throughout February

February is lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans history month.

HEIs across the country are holding events, film screenings, lectures and seminars to mark the annual celebrations.

LGBT history month events

Universities and active ageing

17 February 2010, London

A Universities UK event looking at how HEIs can engage older learners in education and training.

UUK will be launching a report at the conference which examines the future potential of this market for higher education.

Universities and active ageing

Involving Disabled People Group

HEFCE consultation event
1 March 2010, London

A consultation event arranged by HEFCE addressing the question: What are the challenges experienced by disabled employees in accessing HE, and how can we address these?

Registration closes on 15 February 2010.

HEFCE consultation event

Higher Education Race Action Group

1 March 2010, London

The next meeting of the Higher Education Race Action Group will be held at the School of Oriental and African Studies.

HERAG

Engaging for change

2 March 2010, Leeds

A one-day conference looking at how HEIs can use effective change management, including discussion of the impact of change on equality and diversity.

Engaging for change

Broadening horizons

Sexuality, equality and diversity

11 March 2010, Newcastle

A discussion of the key topics of sexual orientation equalities work.

A one-day conference aimed at academics, practitioners, policy makers and activists, providing space for discussion of topics of key importance for LGBT equalities work.

Broadening horizons

heidi equality training

New date added
26 April 2010, London

heidi equality is a new online tool that allows users to easily access relevant higher education equality data, covering both staff and students, in a useful and targeted format.

ECU and HESA have developed a one-day training session to introduce equality practitioners and others using equality data to heidi equality.

Following the high take-up of places at sessions in January and February, a further date has been added.

heidi equality seminar

ECU and HESA are hoping to hold further training events in the near future and will keep you informed in Equalitylink and on our website.

If you would like your event to be featured on our website and the next issue of EqualityLink, please email details to Anna Roberts, Communications Manager.