Equalitylink November-December 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 in HE

Focus resources on key equality areas

ECU's annual Equality in higher education: statistical report was published on 17 November. The report provides a national picture of the progress made so far on equality, enabling individual institutions to benchmark their own progress against the rest of the sector, but also importantly allows them to identify areas where they need to focus the resources available for equality work.

David Ruebain, chief executive of ECU, stressed that if further progress is to be made on ensuring equality and diversity throughout the higher education sector during a time of uncertain funding, higher education institutions must prioritise their efforts to focus on the key challenges ahead.

Focus resources on key equality areas

HE letting down pregnant students

Protecting students during pregnancy and maternity

Higher education institutions may not be meeting new legal responsibilities to ensure pregnant students, and those who have recently given birth, aren't discriminated against.

The Equality Act 2010 introduced new protection from discrimination for students during pregnancy and maternity, by extending the protection that exists for women in employment to higher education. Although most higher education institutions give effective support for pregnant staff and those with childcare commitments, there are currently few examples of providing such support for students.

ECU has published new guidance, the first of its kind, to help institutions ensure that students who become pregnant, or who have recently given birth, don't face discrimination and are able to continue their studies.

Many HEIs letting down pregnant students

Socio-economic duty scrapped

Government Equalities Office announce new approach to equality

Equalities minister Theresa May announced a new approach to equality, moving away from what she called 'box ticking' towards transparency and accountability.

The minister announced the scrapping of the proposed Socio-economic Duty, by which an authority would have 'due regard to the desirability of exercising its functions in a way that is designed to reduce the inequalities of outcome which result from socio-economic disadvantage'. This would not have applied to individual HEIs, but would have applied to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The minister went on to say, '...as we increase equality of opportunity, some people will always do better than others ... no government should try to ensure equal outcomes for everyone.'

May: Political correctness won't lead to equality

Equality Act guidance updated

ECU's guidance documents on the implications of the Equality Act have been updated in light of changes to the timetable for implementation, the proposed duties and noting that protection from association or perception has not been extended to pregnancy and maternity.

Equality Act 2010: implications for HEIs

Equality Act 2010: key actions for the October provisions

Trans staff and students

Estimates of people transitioning updated

According to the Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES), the number of people presenting themselves for medical assistance to transition is doubling every six and a half years – a trend which has been confirmed by data sources going back to 1970. The number of people who have sought medical assistance to transition is now thought to be 12,500. The median age of transition is 42, but there is a rapid growth in younger people presenting themselves for assistance.

Gender variant people in the UK

Reporting hate crime

NUS survey

The National Union of Students has launched the first ever research into the prevalence of hate crimes among students.

A confidential survey open to all students in the UK has been designed to explore students' knowledge, understanding and experiences of prejudiced or bias-motivated incidents – more commonly known as 'hate' crime or incidents.

NUS is asking for the survey to be publicised as widely as possible to provide a complete and accurate picture of hate activity on campus, and asking students to complete the survey regardless of whether or not they believe they have encountered a hate incident on campus. The survey closes in January 2011.

Welfare and students rights: hate crime

Accelerating Equality in HE

ECU's biennial national conference took place on 17–18 November in London. Around 200 delegates attended a packed two days of inspiring and informative workshops, plenaries and discussion.

'Don't ever blink'

Keynote speakers outlined the current situation in higher education, their thoughts about the future and the place of equality and diversity in HE. Delegates welcomed the honest and open analysis of speakers including Sir Alan Langlands (HEFCE), Chris Brink (vice-chancellor of Newcastle University) and John Brooks (vice-chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University).

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of RSA, challenged HEIs to play a greater part in their local communities, but also to do much more to ensure disadvantaged young people could enter higher education.

Aneez Esmail, associate vice-president (equality and diversity) at the University of Manchester continued the frank discussion as he outlined the long process of promoting equality in academic recruitment at his own institutions. The necessity of a senior-level commitment to equality and a culture of inclusion was illustrated by several vice-chancellors, including Mark Cleary from the University of Bradford, who stressed the need to take personal responsibility, address issues straight away and to '...keep committed – don't ever blink'.

'Our goal is to end discrimination in our lifetime'

David Ruebain, chief executive of ECU, took the opportunity to outline ECU's strategy for meeting future equality challenges in HE. In an inspiring and positive approach, David made it clear that it is possible to make changes even though progress may feel slow: 'Our goal is to end discrimination in our lifetime. This is an obtainable goal for us all.'

Natasha Walter

Another highlight for delegates was the evening session – a thoughtful and inspiring conversation between author and campaigner Natasha Walter and Simon Fanshawe, broadcaster and chair of the University of Sussex's governing body. This entertaining and informal session covered the relevance of feminism today, the development of Natasha's views, a discussion of whether real choice is available and the pros and cons of pink. Natasha also spoke of the work of her charity, Women for refugee women. Delegate feedback from the session was that it was 'a real treat', 'an excellent format' with 'brilliant discussion'.

Workshops, materials and presentations

Two workshop sessions were held during the conference, and we know there was some disappointment that delegates couldn't attend more sessions.

We have made materials and presentations from workshops and the plenary sessions available for delegates to download from the conference website. They can be viewed by clicking the 'downloads' section on the menu bar.

Accelerating Equality materials

Our thanks go to our headline sponsors Mills & Reeve, and media partners Times Higher Education for sponsoring elements of the conference including the delegate pack. Don't forget to take advantage of the offer for a free issue of THE on the inside back cover of the programme booklet.

ECU in 2011

Developing new strategy 2011-2013

ECU has been developing a new strategy for 2011-2013, following a wide consultation process with over 50 stakeholder organisations from the higher education sector.

Roundtable meetings held during our national conference in November also fed in to the development of the strategy, and we would like to thank colleagues who attended these sessions.

ECU's new strategy will be published in January 2011, with full details in Equalitylink.

Equality Act: Welsh consultation response

ECU publishes draft response to public sector equality duty consultation

ECU has published its draft response to the Welsh Assembly government consultation on the specific duties proposed to underpin the new public sector equality duty of the Equality Act in Wales.

We are inviting Welsh higher education institutions' feedback on this draft or to download this response and use it to inform their own response.

ECU's Welsh Assembly consultation draft response

Welsh Assembly government equality duty consultation

Closing date: 17 December 2010.

Default retirement age

Helping the sector plan ahead

ECU and Oxford Brookes University are running a project to support institutions to manage flexible retirement and extended working lives. A survey of all HEI human resources departments was completed last month, and guidance will be produced based on these findings.

The guidance is due to be available by April 2011 and will cover all elements of the sector's concerns, including managing succession planning and employee retirement expectations outside a statutory framework. Preliminary survey findings will be available on the project website next month:

Flexible retirement

Religion and belief in HE

Staff and student surveys online

Two surveys for staff and students in higher education with a religion and belief, part of ECU's ground-breaking new research, are now online. Through these surveys we aim to develop an evidence base to support further development of more inclusive policy and practice within the sector – meeting legal requirements while also extending good practice.

ECU is asking you to help us to disseminate the survey link within your institution, through your normal communication channels, so that staff and students are aware of it and can choose whether to respond.

The survey can be completed online until 9 December 2010.

Religion and belief in HE surveys

Enabling equality

Share your experiences of disability equality

There is still time for disabled staff to contribute to ECU and Leadership Foundation for Higher Education research into Enabling equality: furthering disability equality for staff in HE.

We are looking for disabled staff willing to share their experiences of employment within higher education, to identify effective practice to develop more inclusive working environments for disabled staff to improve career development and equal opportunities.

NIACE: Enabling equality

The online survey closes on 17 December 2010.

Code of practice in HE

EHRC consultation on Equality Act codes

The Equality and Human Rights Commission launched its consultation on the draft code of practice on further and higher education on 1 October, and is calling for HEIs to feed in to the code.

The consultation will close on 31 December 2010.

Code of practice consultation

Managing reasonable adjustments in HE

New guidance published

ECU has published new guidance to assist institutions move towards planned and anticipatory decision-making for reasonable adjustments for disabled staff and students.

Through taking a strategic approach to building disabled people's entitlement to reasonable adjustments into the overall planning cycle, institutions can create a consistent process and allocate sufficient resources, leading to a more inclusive culture and long-term const and efficiency savings.

Managing reasonable adjustments in HE

Student pregnancy and maternity

Implications for HEIs

Guidance outlining how institutions can ensure students aren't discriminated against on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity.

Student pregnancy and maternity

Internationalisation

Building on links with equality and diversity

ECU has published a research report into the relationships between equality and diversity and the internationalisation agenda. This research explores effective ways to link equality and diversity and internationalisation policies, structures and activities.

It includes examples of good practice and synergy, as well as considering areas of potential improvement in the two fields.

Internationalisation: merging identities

Higher Education Academy embedding equality

The Higher Education Academy has launched a programme offering a range of opportunities for HEIs to support their work in embedding equality and diversity considerations into teaching and learning.

Embedding equality and diversity in the curriculum

Skill Facebook page

Skill, the national bureau for students with disabilities, has launched a Facebook page for disabled students and disability practitioners. The page will keep people up to date with Skill's activities and allows users to comment on news and policy developments as well as get involved in discussions.

Skill Facebook page

Promoting diverse leaders in higher education

6 December 2010, London

The Stellar HE national conference is designed to showcase, influence and shape the organisational success and impact of diverse leaders in higher education. A chance to hear about some great positive action programmes throughout the sectors and the impact they are having, ask some challenging questions, and network with inspiring colleagues.

The conference is free but you do need to register. Contact Christine Yates, 020 7594 5558

Equality in a cold climate: managing equality in uncertain times

20 January 2011, Birmingham

This Higher Education Equal Opportunities Network (HEEON) conference aims to consider ways of ensuring equality in the face of financial, political and legal change and help equip colleagues to influence the agenda within their institutions.

Confirmed speakers include Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK and Fariba Dashtgard-Soetan, HEFCE.

HEEON conference

NADP conference: supporting students with physical and sensory impairments

25 March 2011, London and 1 April 2011, Liverpool

The National Association of Disability Practitioners' spring conference will include presentations ranging from technology to support learners with print impairments, to how to cope with 'invisible' disabilities as an undergraduate.

NADP conference

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.