Positive action proposals miss an important opportunity by ignoring students, says ECU

The positive action element of the proposals for the Equality Bill fail to meet the needs of higher education institutions, ECU warned today.

Chief Executive Nicola Dandridge said:

‘We welcome the moves to clarify practical examples of positive action, which will enable institutions to proceed with worthwhile initiatives without being held back by concerns about the legality of proposals.

However, it is highly disappointing that the proposals for the Bill fail to extend the positive action provision to cover students. Institutions have repeatedly called for more flexibility and freedom in their treatment of students in order to address specific disadvantage or under-representation - for example, in the ability to offer student bursaries to under-represented black and minority ethnic applicants, or supporting mature students by offering reduced fees to senior citizens.

Institutions have actively embraced their duty to remove discrimination in all forms towards students as well as staff. By failing to apply the concept of positive action to students, the government has missed an important opportunity to allow the sector to advance equality further.’

Ends

Notes to editors

• ECU will continue to work with higher education institutions to clarify the implications of the Bill for the sector and will continue to push for an extension of the positive action provision to cover students
• ECU has been working with a range of higher education institutions in anticipation of the extension of the public sector duties to all the equality areas
  
• For further information on the work of ECU, guidance and publications, and advice on equality and diversity in higher education:
  T: +44 (0) 20 7438 1010
  E: info@ecu.ac.uk
  Web: www.ecu.ac.uk