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Equalitylink May 2011
ECU's monthly round-up of equality and diversity news, resources and our work with the sector
Welcome May 2011
Equality Challenge Unit works to further and support equality and diversity for staff and students in higher education across all four nations of the UK. Equalitylink is a monthly round-up of equality and diversity news, resources and ECU’s work with the sector.
Review of PSED for England
Late changes cause uncertainty
The government withdrew the draft specific duties of the public sector equality duty underpinning the Equality Act 2010, pending a review.
Many higher education institutions had already begun detailed preparation for the new duties, including developing and resourcing new policies and systems.
ECU responded to the review, warning that proposed changes may create more work and less certainty for higher education institutions, and could damage the progress of equality in the sector.
GEO public sector equality duty guidance
Updated guidance published
The Government Equalities Office has published updated guidance on the public sector equality duty.
This replaces previous guidance published in January 2011.
Equality Act 2010: PSED What do I need to know?
Flexible parental leave proposed
BIS opens consultation on workplace laws
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has opened a consultation on changing some workplace laws.
The Modern Workplaces proposals include allowing parents to share the overall maternity leave allowance between them. The leave could be taken in a number of blocks, and both parents could take leave at the same time.
Proposals on the rights to flexible working, working time regulations and equal pay have also been put forward for consultation.
Modern workplaces consultation
Closing date: 8 August 2011
Definition of philosophical belief
Recent court cases extend definition
Two recent court cases have further developed the definition of what may be afforded protection under religion and belief legislation.
The current definition of a philosophical belief arising from the case of Grainger v Nicholson suggests that the belief must:
- be genuinely held
- be a belief and not an opinion or viewpoint based on the present state of information available
- be a belief as to a weighty and substantial aspect of human life and behaviour
- attain a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance
- be worthy of respect in a democratic society and not incompatible with human dignity and/or conflict with the fundamental rights of others
In the Employment Tribunal Maistry v BBC the claimant’s belief in the ‘public service broadcasting has the higher purpose of promoting cultural interchange and social cohesion’ was determined to fulfil the criteria.
In Hashman v Milton Park (Dorset) Limited t/a Orchard Park the tribunal determined that the claimant’s ‘strongly held belief in the sanctity of life, including opposition to fox hunting and hare-coursing, ... went beyond strongly held opinion’, and also fulfilled the criteria.
Charity supporting disabled students closes
Skill has ceased operating
Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities announced that it has ceased operating.
Following a period of financial difficulty, Skill's Board of Trustees decided that it was no longer viable to keep the charity open.
Skill was a pan disability charity that focused on promoting equality for disabled people in education, training and employment. All Skill's website resources and information booklets are still available to download.
ECU refocuses to meet new strategy challenges
This year ECU launched an ambitious three-year strategic plan, developed in consultation with the HE sector. We are refocusing our work to deliver these ambitions, and alongside this, restructuring following the retirement of the Deputy Chief Executive.
Our expert advice for the sector will be strengthened by the development of senior policy adviser roles with key responsibility for each of the protected characteristics. Our work on developing evidence-based policies will be reinforced by the appointment of a Research and Data officer.
ECU works closely with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that we reflect the needs of the sector, and to help embed equality at the heart if higher education. With this in mind we have brought together our stakeholder relations and communications work into one team.
These changes will take place on 1 June – full details of key contacts will be published in the next Equalitylink.
Opportunities to join the team
We currently have three exciting opportunities to join the ECU team:
- Research and Data Officer
- Senior Policy Adviser (Religion and belief, sexual orientation)
- Senior Policy Adviser (Race)
Visit our website for more details:
Closing date: Thursday 26 May 2011 at 12 noon
ECU in Scotland
ECU to support colleges in Scotland
ECU has been providing equality and diversity support for Scottish higher education institutions since August 2010.
The Scottish Funding Council, which covers higher and further education in Scotland, has asked ECU to extend our work to support colleges providing further education from August 2011. We will be working with Scotland's Colleges, building on their well-established college networks.
This work will complement our existing resources for higher education institutions and inform our thinking on the sector’s important and growing links with the further education sector.
ECU will provide specific advice for the Scottish college sector, alongside our ongoing support for Scottish HEIs. Where possible we will develop opportunities for integrated working between the college sector and university and higher education institutions sector on equality and diversity.
Attracting international students project underway in six Scottish HEIs
Research has begun in six Scottish HEIs for the Attracting international students: equitable services and support, campus cohesion and community engagement project.
The participating institutions were selected to represent the full range of institution types, sizes, geographic locations and student populations in the Scottish sector.
The research team from the Centre for Education for Racial Equality in Scotland (CERES), Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh, and the Centre for Remote and Rural Studies, University of Highlands and Islands, will undertake focus groups with international and home students and interviews with institution staff and representatives of local community organisations in the coming months.
Attracting international students
National Equality and Diversity Framework conference
ECU took part in the Scottish Funding Council’s National Equality and Diversity Conference on 19 May. Alongside an information stand, we ran a workshop drawing on the initial findings of our Mainstreaming: equality at the heart of higher education project, together with BSV Associates.
ECU chief executive David Ruebain delivered the final keynote speech of the day, providing a reflection on ECU experience and progress in Scotland to date, and how our work and services will help support universities and colleges to respond to the short and long term challenges ahead.
Male student experience
Research into gendered use of services
The University of Sussex in partnership with Edge Hill University have been commissioned by ECU to undertake research on how men and women use and experience pastoral and academic support services in HE.
This is project was prompted by concern about the emerging gender differences in HE retention and achievement rates, and because of the limited amount of information on why men withdraw from their studies more often than women, and achieve less good degrees when they complete their courses.
The project will also explore whether there are different patterns of use of services by other background and on-course factors such as discipline studied, age, ethnicity and socio-economic status.
Research has now commenced in seven participating institutions:
- University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
- University of Sussex
- Edge Hill University
- University of the West of Scotland
- University of the Highlands and Islands
- Queen’s University, Belfast
- King’s College London
Religion and belief in HE: save the date
Understanding the experiences of staff and students
ECU will be launching the findings of our groundbreaking research on Religion and belief in higher education: researching the experiences of staff and students in London on 11 July 2011.
Details of the research will be unveiled at the event, with discussion from stakeholders providing further context. Practical workshops will support practitioners in ensuring that staff and students are not unfairly excluded, marginalised or disadvantaged because of their religion or belief.
Further details, including booking information, will be available shortly.
Meeting the specific duties in Wales
Equality Act event for Welsh HEIs
ECU is running a practical, in-depth event in Wales to help equality and diversity practitioners and HR staff get to grips with the specific duties for Wales.
Equality Act: meeting the specific duties in Wales
University of Newport, Caerleon Campus
6 June 2011, 9.45-15.30
Delegates will have the opportunity to gather information on the detail and scope of the new legislation and also participate in workshops providing practical detail on how institutions can take forward the work they are currently doing to meet the new public sector equality duty.
The events aim to be as informative as possible. If delegates have any particular questions about the new specific duties they would like covered in the day, please email these to equalityact@ecu.ac.uk.
Equality Act: meeting the specific duties in Wales
Join the HEEON steering group
The Higher Education Equal Opportunities Network is looking to fill at least three vacancies on their steering group at their AGM on 16 June 2011.
HEEON has a very diverse membership and is looking to continue to reflect this in their steering group.
If you would like to find out more, or to put yourself forward for nomination contact Deputy Chair Sarah Lewis:
- sarah.lewis@coventry.ac.uk
- 024 7688 7133
Mainstreaming: equality at the heart of HE
Approaches to mainstreaming
A report summarising the initial findings of ECU’s Scottish project, introducing various approaches to mainstreaming equality in higher education, with examples of tools which have been proven to be effective in the higher education sector or elsewhere.
Mainstreaming: equality at the heart of HE
Performance management of disabled staff
Guide for line managers
The Employers Forum on Disability has published a guide for line managers on performance managing disabled staff. This guidance makes it easier for managers to recognise and realise the potential of disabled people who work for them.
Performance management: line manager guide
Hidden marks
Support for women students
A website run by the National Union of Students women’s campaign, offering support for students who have experienced (or know someone who has experienced) physical or sexual assault, domestic violence/abuse, stalking or sexual harassment.
A one-stop-shop for information and advice.
UseMyAbility
Employability and disability project
UseMyAbility offers practical advice to help students develop their employability skills.
The website is part of a project aiming to reduce discrimination and enhance disabled graduates’ employability. It intends to achieve this by equipping disabled students with the skills to match employability competencies, largely through enhancing academic and careers staff’s knowledge and understanding about the potential challenges that disabled students may face in developing such skills, and in offering possible solutions.
The content of the searchable resource has been informed by research with employers, academic staff, careers staff and disabled students.
Academy seminar series 2011: Access and success for all
6 June 2011, Leeds Metropolitan University
This seminar draws together work funded by the Higher Education Academy, Equality Challenge Unit, the Centre for Sociology, Anthropology and Politics, and the ESRC, exploring the aspiration, retention and degree attainment of students from diverse black and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Speakers include Jacqueline Stevenson, Leeds Metropolitan University; Josef Ploner, Leeds Metropolitan University; Sarah Finney, Leeds University.
For further details and to book email: r.a.wood@leedsmet.ac.uk
23 June 2011, The Open University, London
This seminar will explore factors affecting attainment of ethnic minority students in higher education, drawing primarily on research findings at the Open University in the areas of language development, conceptions of learning, unintended bias and personal drive.
It will focus on five key areas: tutor support, student support, curriculum development, systems and information, research and evaluation.
Speakers include Tony O’Shea-Poon, Head of Equality and Diversity; John Richardson, Professor in Student Learning and Assessment; David Donnamurra, lecturer in English Language Teaching; Rissa DeLaPaz, Instructional Designer.
For further details and to book email: d.a.patton@open.ac.uk
Promoting inclusive change: addressing equity and success for BME students in higher education
4 July 2011, London
A one-day conference from Equality Challenge Unit, the Higher Education Academy and the University of Greenwich providing an opportunity for colleagues to engage with the emerging body of research about the BME student experience and with initiatives that offer pointers for making in-roads into reducing the BME attainment gap.
Disability and the majority world: Towards a global disability studies
7-8 July 2011, Manchester Metropolitan University
This free conference is the first international conference of its kind, seeking to bring together academics, disability activists, practitioners, organisations, researchers and others from various fields, to discuss a range of key and emerging themes around the complex disability and global South debate.
Specifically, the conference will provide a much needed inter-disciplinary, critical, supportive and open space to debate, question and challenge dominant knowledges, discourses and practices, while exploring alternatives.
Disability and the majority world
Keeping your balance on shifting sands: advancing equality in challenging times
15-16 July 2011, University of Warwick
HEEON’s residential conference to help practitioners consider how they can make equality central to their institution in these challenging times by sharing key research, good practice and enabling peer engagement.
If you would like your event to be featured on our website and the next issue of Equalitylink, please email details to Anna Roberts Allison, Communications Manager.
Contacts
ECU Press Office
Anna Roberts Allison
Communications Manager
Telephone: 020 7438 1018
Email: anna.robertsallison@ecu.ac.uk
Out of Office enquiries
For urgent media enquiries outside of ECU office hours
Mobile: 07810 556 724